What does reoccur mean?
Reoccur is a verb meaning to happen or appear again. It is commonly used for problems, symptoms, events, and patterns that have taken place before and return later: “The issue reoccurred after the software update.” The word emphasizes recurrence after a particular previous occurrence, rather than merely describing something that happens regularly. In contemporary English, recur is usually the more frequent choice, while reoccur is a perfectly standard synonym and may be preferred in contexts where the repetition follows a clear earlier event. Reoccur can also be used more broadly for a theme, symptom, or difficulty that returns. It is distinct from recurring, which is commonly used as an adjective before a noun, as in “a recurring problem.”
verbTo happen or occur again, especially after an interval or on more than one occasion.
- To happen or occur again, especially after a previous occurrence.
"The problem may reoccur if the underlying cause is not addressed."
"The warning signs may reappear during periods of extreme weather."
"She noted that the same technical issue had reoccurred in several installations."
The word reoccur is more precise than it looks: it means not simply to happen repeatedly, but to happen again after a particular event, problem, or interval.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reoccur come from?
Reoccur was formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning again, with occur. The underlying word occur comes from Latin recurrere, formed from re- (“again”) and currere (“to run”), and originally meant to run back or return. English borrowed occur in the late 16th century, and reoccur developed later as a transparent equivalent of Latin recurrere. The family includes recurrence, recurrent, and recurring, as well as the related verb recur.
Related word forms
How reoccur is actually used
Reoccur is standard but less common than recur. It is used especially for events, problems, symptoms, or patterns that happen again after an interval.
Easily confused with reoccur
Both mean to happen again, but recur is the more usual modern word, while reoccur is a less common alternative with the same meaning.