recurrence

noun

re·​cur·​rence ri-ˈkər-ən(t)s 

-ˈkə-rən(t)s

plural recurrences

: a new occurrence of something that happened or appeared before : a repeated occurrence

Scientists are working to lower the disease's rate of recurrence.

Long-term drug therapy is associated with frequent recurrences and adverse effects, however.

—Melvin M. Scheinman

The hypoallergenic diet is restored until the itching and scratching again disappear, following which potential allergens from the original diet are restored sequentially, one by one, into the dog's meals and the owner looks for indications of the allergy's recurrence.

—Tom Ewing

As a familiar shape its exact meaning may have been lost to some of the craftsmen who used it; however, its recurrence on a whole group of gravestones in Davidson County, North Carolina, suggests an association there with hope, rebirth, and the cycle of life and death.

—Jessie Poesch

The shortage is a result of a decline in Treasury issuance as well as banks' strengthening their balance sheets in preparation for rules designed to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 financial crisis.

—Peter Coy and Liz Capo McCormick

Examples of recurrence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And then the recurrence of the infection this year set him back again. —Murat Ates, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

Whigham’s wry performance, and the recurrence of Bridger offering sensible advice to people who ignore it, always at their peril, isn’t exactly funny. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025

Three-quarters of patients who got both therapies had no recurrence three years later, compared to 56% in the Keytruda-only group. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024

How To Prevent Muscle Cramps Muscle cramps can occur for a number of reasons, but there are ways to prevent cramps or help reduce recurrences. —Laura Schober, Health, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

recurrence

noun

re·​cur·​rence ri-ˈkər-ən(t)s, -ˈkə-rən(t)s 

1

: return of symptoms of a disease after a remission

2

: reappearance of a tumor after previous removal