occur

[ uh-kur ]
/ əˈkɜr /

verb (used without object), oc·curred, oc·cur·ring.

to happen; take place; come to pass: When did the accident occur?
to be met with or found; present itself; appear.
to suggest itself in thought; come to mind (usually followed by to): An idea occurred to me.

Origin of occur

1520–30; < Latin occurrere to run to meet, arrive, meet, equivalent to oc- oc- + currere to run

SYNONYMS FOR occur

1 befall. See happen.
2 arise, offer.

OTHER WORDS FROM occur

pre·oc·cur, verb (used without object), pre·oc·curred, pre·oc·cur·ring. re·oc·cur, verb (used without object), re·oc·curred, re·oc·cur·ring. un·oc·cur·ring, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for occur

British Dictionary definitions for occur

occur
/ (əˈkɜː) /

verb -curs, -curring or -curred (intr)

to happen; take place; come about
to be found or be present; exist
(foll by to) to be realized or thought of (by); suggest itself (to)

Word Origin for occur

C16: from Latin occurrere to run up to, from ob- to + currere to run

usage for occur

It is usually regarded as incorrect to talk of pre-arranged events occurring or happening : the wedding took place (not occurred or happened) in the afternoon