recurrent

UK: /rɪˈkʌrənt/ US: (ri kûr′ənt, -kur′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•cur•rent  (ri kûr′ənt, -kur′-), adj. 

1. that recurs;
   occurring or appearing again, esp. repeatedly or periodically.
2. Anatomy, Biology turned back so as to run in a reverse direction, as a nerve, artery, branch, etc.

• Latin recurrent- (stem of recurrēns), present participle of recurrere to run back, equivalent. to recurr(ere) (see recur) + -ent- -ent
• 1590–1600

re•cur′rent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. repeated; persistent, intermittent.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

recurrent / rɪˈkʌrənt/ adjective

1. happening or tending to happen again or repeatedly
2. (of certain nerves, branches of vessels, etc) turning back, so as to run in the opposite direction

reˈcurrently adverb

reˈcurrence noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•cur /rɪˈkɜr/   v. [no object] , -curred, -cur•ring. 

1. to happen again, as an event, experience, etc.:
   Snowstorms recur every winter.
2. to return to the mind:
   The idea kept recurring.

re•cur•rence, n. 

[countable] yet another recurrence.

[uncountable] recurrence of pain.

re•cur•rent, adj.: 

recurrent problems.

re•cur•rent•ly, adv. See -cur-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•cur  (ri kûr′), v.i., -curred, -cur•ring. 

1. to occur again, as an event, experience, etc.
2. to return to the mind:
   The idea kept recurring.
3. to come up again for consideration, as a question.
4. to have recourse.

• Latin recurrere to run back, equivalent. to re- re- + currere to run
• earlier: to recede 1610–20