occur
uh-KUR
Occur (verb) means to happen or take place. Example: “The accident occurred just after midnight.”
verb
1
To happen or take place.
"The accident occurred just after midnight."
"Storms of this kind rarely occur in the early spring."
"If a problem occurs, please call the helpline straight away."
2
To come to mind suddenly.
"It occurred to her that she'd left the oven on."
"It never occurred to me that the shop might be closed."
"Did it not occur to you to ask first?"
3
To exist or be found somewhere.
"This mineral occurs naturally in volcanic rock."
"Wild garlic occurs in damp woodland across much of the country."
"Rare fossils occur only in this layer of rock."
How to use occur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo happen, or to come to mind, or to exist somewhere.
Common mistake
Remember the double "r" and single "c" when adding endings: "occurred", "occurring", "occurrence".
Common pairings
it occurred to me
occur naturally
commonly occurs
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like occur.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- occurs
- Past tense
- occurred
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Storms of this kind rarely _____ in the early spring.
Etymology
From Latin occurrere, "to run to meet, present itself", from ob- ("against") plus currere ("to run").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “occur” mean?
The word “occur” means to happen or take place. In plain terms, to happen, or to come to mind, or to exist somewhere.
How do you pronounce “occur”?
“Occur” is pronounced uh-KUR (/əˈkɝ/ in IPA).
How do you use “occur” in a sentence?
Here is “occur” used in a sentence: “The accident occurred just after midnight.”
What is another word for “occur”?
Words with a similar meaning to “occur” include betide, betime, come to pass, happen and take place.
What part of speech is “occur”?
“Occur” is a verb.
Where does the word “occur” come from?
The word “occur” comes from Latin. From Latin occurrere, "to run to meet, present itself", from ob- ("against") plus currere ("to run").
Is “occur” a common word?
“Occur” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “occur” have?
“Occur” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to happen or take place.
What is the difference between occur and happen?
Both mean to take place, and often either works. "Happen" is the everyday, neutral choice, while "occur" sounds a little more formal and is common in writing, science and reports. "Happen" can also suggest chance, as in "it just happened," whereas "occur" tends to state an event more plainly.
What is the difference between occur and recur?
To occur is to happen or take place, usually thought of as a single event. To recur is to happen again, repeatedly or at intervals. If a problem occurs, it has taken place; if it recurs, it keeps coming back. The prefix "re-" adds the sense of repetition.
Is occur formal or informal?
Occur leans formal. It is at home in academic writing, official reports and technical contexts, where it sounds precise and neutral. In casual conversation people usually prefer "happen." Neither is wrong, but choosing "occur" tends to raise the register of a sentence slightly.
What is an example of occur?
"The accident occurred at midnight," "errors can occur during installation," or "a total eclipse occurs rarely." The word states that an event took place, often with a time, place or condition attached. It can also mean to come to mind, as in "it occurred to me."
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include occur:
