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Definition of occur

occur

/əˈkɜːr/
oc · cur
Adjective:occurrent
•
Past Simple:occurred
•
Past Participle:occurred
•
Present Participle:occurring
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occur Lexical Profile

occur Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To happen, take place, or come about, especially without deliberate planning.

Example

"The total solar eclipse will occur early tomorrow afternoon and be visible across several states."

2

To come into a person's mind or awareness as a sudden thought or realization (usually followed by "to").

Example

"It suddenly occurred to her that she had left her house keys on the kitchen counter."

3

To exist or be found to be present in a particular place, environment, or set of conditions.

Example

"This rare mineral occurs naturally in deep volcanic rock formations throughout the region."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for occur
Antonyms
View all antonyms for occur

Word Nuance & Usage

"Occur" is strictly an intransitive verb and cannot be used in the passive voice (never "was occurred"). Note also the doubling of the final consonant in inflected forms ("occurred", "occurring", "occurrence").

• Rhymes for occur

• Nearby Words

occupied
occupier
occupy
occur
occurrence
ocean
ocean spray

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 16th century from Latin occurrere, meaning "to run to meet" or "to present itself," formed from the assimilated prefix ob- ("against" or "toward") and currere ("to run").

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Occur. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/occur
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