recurrent

adjective

re·​cur·​rent ri-ˈkər-ənt 

-ˈkə-rənt

1

: running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course

—used of various nerves and branches of vessels in the arms and legs

2

: returning or happening time after time

recurrent complaints

recurrently adverb

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Recurrent vs. Recurring

Is there a difference between recurring and recurrent? As is so often the case with nearly identical words, the answer is "yes and no." Both words are most commonly used in the sense "happening time after time." But recurrent, the more commonly-used of the two, tends to appear more often in medical contexts, as in “recurrent fevers” or “recurrent cancer.” It also has a specialized anatomical sense, "running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course,” as in “a recurrent artery,” that recurring does not share. There are certainly circumstances in which either recurrent or recurring could be used; pain or needs might be described as either recurrent or recurring. But even in such cases, there may be subtle differences which you may wish to pay attention to. Recurrent tends to suggest a coming back of something that has existed before, whereas recurring often implies simply a repeated occurrence.

Synonyms

• continual
• intermittent
• on-and-off
• periodic
• periodical
• recurring

Examples of recurrent in a Sentence

The loss of innocence is a recurrent theme in his stories.

had recurrent problems with the computer for months and finally junked it

Recent Examples on the Web

More often, the broad sweep of history serves as recurrent inspiration for designers, such as Italian Renaissance paintings for Maria Grazia Chiuri at Christian Dior, Medieval tapestries for Dries van Noten, or 18th-century delicacies evoked by John Galliano and Christian Louboutin. —Lisa Klaassen and Serene Nourrisson, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025

Its recurrent vanity is that its heroes stood alone. —Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2025

This can lead to frequent visits to the doctor and recurrent medical testing to gain that reassurance. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2025

Advertisement His films were often filled with recurrent characters and motifs, and blended film noir darkness, suspense and ensemble casts. —Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin recurrent-, recurrens, present participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" — more at recur

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

recurrent

adjective

re·​cur·​rent ri-ˈkər-ənt 

-ˈkə-rənt

: returning from time to time

a recurrent fever

recurrently adverb

Medical Definition

recurrent

adjective

re·​cur·​rent -ˈkər-ənt, -ˈkə-rənt 

1

: running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course

—used of various nerves and branches of vessels in the arms and legs

2

: returning or happening time after time

recurrent pain

recurrently adverb