Occur Meaning and Definition
Occur
Pronunciation
/əˈkɜːr/
Part of Speech
Verb
Definition
To happen or take place, especially suddenly or unexpectedly.
Examples
- The accident occurred at the intersection.
- We didn’t anticipate that the storm would occur during our picnic.
Synonyms
- Happen
- Take place
- Transpire
Antonyms
- Fail
- Prevent
Additional Information
Occur can be used in various contexts, including natural events, human actions, or unexpected situations. It implies a sense of unexpectedness or surprise. For example, “The earthquake occurred without warning” or “The power outage occurred during the storm.”
In formal or technical contexts, occur may be used to describe a specific event or phenomenon, such as a solar eclipse or a medical condition. In casual conversations, occur is often used to express surprise or astonishment, as in “I didn’t expect that to occur.”
Etymology
The word “occur” comes from the Latin “occurrere,” meaning “to run against” or “to meet.” It has been used in the English language since the 14th century.
Usage Notes
Occur is often confused with the word “happen,” but while both words mean “to take place,” occur implies a greater sense of unexpectedness or surprise. For example, “The party happened last night” versus “The argument occurred during the party.”
Cultural References
The phrase “when pigs fly” is often used to express that something will occur when an unlikely or impossible event takes place.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“When hell freezes over” is an idiomatic expression meaning that something will occur when an impossible or highly unlikely event takes place.
Related Words or Phrases
Take place, happen, transpire, come about, arise
Collocations
Occur frequently, occur suddenly, occur unexpectedly, occur naturally
Frequency of Use
Occur is a moderately common word in everyday language, with a frequency of use of around 2.5 per million words.
Common Misspellings
Occure, occurence, occurence