encounter
ihn-KOWN-tuh
Encounter (verb) means to meet or come across someone or something, especially unexpectedly. Example: “Travellers may encounter delays on the motorway during the school holidays.”
verb
1
To meet or come across someone or something, especially unexpectedly.
"Travellers may encounter delays on the motorway during the school holidays."
"We encountered a herd of deer on the trail."
"She encountered several problems while setting up the new system."
noun
1
A meeting, especially one that is unplanned, tense, or significant.
"Her first encounter with snow left the little boy wide-eyed and speechless."
"The tense encounter between the two rival managers ended without a handshake."
"It was a brief but memorable encounter with the actor."
How to use encounter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo run into someone or something, or a meeting of that kind.
Common pairings
chance encounter
encounter a problem
first encounter
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Word forms
- Plural
- encounters
- Third person singular
- encounters
- Past tense
- encountered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Travellers may _____ delays on the motorway during the school holidays.
Etymology
From Old French encontrer ("to confront"), from encontre ("against"), ultimately from Latin in- + contra ("against").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for encounter
See all rhymes for encounter →Frequently asked questions
What does “encounter” mean?
The word “encounter” means to meet or come across someone or something, especially unexpectedly. In plain terms, to run into someone or something, or a meeting of that kind.
How do you pronounce “encounter”?
“Encounter” is pronounced ihn-KOWN-tuh (/ɪnˈkaʊntɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “encounter” in a sentence?
Here is “encounter” used in a sentence: “We encountered a herd of deer on the trail.”
What part of speech is “encounter”?
Depending on how it is used, “encounter” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “encounter” come from?
The word “encounter” comes from Latin. From Old French encontrer ("to confront"), from encontre ("against"), ultimately from Latin in- + contra ("against").
Is “encounter” a common word?
“Encounter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “encounter” have?
“Encounter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to meet or come across someone or something, especially unexpectedly.
What is the difference between 'encounter' and 'meet'?
'Meet' is a general word for coming together with someone, often planned. 'Encounter' suggests the meeting was unexpected, unplanned, or significant, as in 'we encountered an old friend at the airport.' Encounter also often implies tension or difficulty, which 'meet' does not.
What is the difference between an 'encounter' and a 'meeting'?
A 'meeting' is usually arranged in advance, such as a business meeting. An 'encounter' is more often unplanned, tense, or noteworthy, as in 'a chance encounter' or 'a close encounter.' The word encounter carries a sense of drama or surprise that meeting does not.
What words commonly follow 'encounter'?
As a verb, 'encounter' often pairs with difficulties, such as 'encounter problems,' 'encounter resistance,' or 'encounter obstacles.' It suggests coming up against something unexpectedly, so it frequently precedes words describing challenges.
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