Meaning and usage guide
recur vs reoccur
Meaning, usage, and examples
Recur means happen repeatedly or return at intervals. Reoccur means occur again and may describe one repetition without suggesting a continuing pattern.
How to choose
Look for a pattern rather than just one return
The meanings overlap, but recurrence naturally suggests repetition over time.
Repeated pattern: recur
Use recur for something that returns periodically or repeatedly.
The problem tends to recur every winter.
Happen again: reoccur
Use reoccur when emphasizing that an occurrence happens another time.
The same unusual error could reoccur after the update.
Direct answer
What is the difference?
Use recur when something returns periodically, repeatedly, or as part of a pattern. Use reoccur when you specifically mean that an event occurs again, although many sentences can use recur naturally instead. Recur is more common and concise; reoccur preserves the full verb occur and has an extra unstressed syllable.
Optional listening · American English
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Word 1
recur
verb
To happen, appear, or return repeatedly or at intervals.
US pronunciation
/rɪˈkɝ/
UK IPA
/rɪˈkɜː/
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Word 2
reoccur
verb
To occur again after having happened before.
US pronunciation
/ˌriːəˈkɝ/
UK IPA
/ˌriːəˈkɜː/
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Listen in context
6 example sentences
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Examples with
recur
- The headache may recur under stress.
- This theme recurs throughout the novel.
- Seasonal delays recur at the end of each year.
Examples with
reoccur
- The fault could reoccur if the cable stays loose.
- We changed the process so the accident would not reoccur.
- A rare reaction may reoccur during later treatment.
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