recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

intransitive verb

1

: to have recourse : resort

2

: to go back in thought or discourse

on recurring to my letters of that date

—Thomas Jefferson

3

a

: to come up again for consideration

b

: to come again to mind

4

: to occur again after an interval : occur time after time

the cancer recurred

Examples of recur in a Sentence

There is only a slight chance that the disease will recur.

The same problem keeps recurring.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2020, Charlie got his first recurring role on a television series in Hulu's teen rom-com, Love, Victor. —Jacklyn Krol, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

The recurring theme about what people will most miss about Golden Gate is the sense of community. —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024

The song wades in one of the recurring themes of Vandross’s life and music: the nerve-racking challenge of throwing oneself into a romance. —Ross Scarano, New York Times, 5 June 2024

Greer made her acting debut in 2010 on iCarly and went on to have a recurring role on MTV's teen dramedy Awkward from 2011-2016. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 3 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin recurrere "to run back, return, have recourse (to)," from re- re- + currere "to run" — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1512, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

recur

verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

1

: to go or come back in thought or discussion

2

: to come again into the mind

3

: to occur or appear again

recurrence

-ˈkər-ən(t)s 

-ˈkə-rən(t)s

noun

Medical Definition

recur

intransitive verb

re·​cur ri-ˈkər 

recurred; recurring

: to occur again after an interval

a disease likely to recur