Recur

rɪˈkɜːr

Meaning & Definition

verb
to occur again or repeatedly
The same problems seem to recur every time we start a new project.
to return to a previous point in a sequence or process
The theme of loss recurs throughout the author's body of work.
to appear again in a person's thoughts or dreams
She found that the memory of her childhood would often recur in her dreams.
in mathematics, to happen again at a regular interval
The function will recur at every multiple of pi.

Etymology

From Latin 'recurrere', meaning 'to run back'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

recur to one's mind
to come back in thought or memory
recur frequently
to happen often or regularly
fail to recur
not to happen again or repeat

Related Words

recurrence
the act of occurring again
recurrent
occurring frequently or repeatedly
recurring
happening repeatedly or periodically

Slang Meanings

to come back
He's always joking that his bad luck tends to recur.
to pop up again
Those old issues seem to recur every time we meet.