Occurrence
/əˈkʌrəns/
Definitions
2 meaningsAn event or instance of something happening.
/əˈkʌrəns/
An instance of something happening; an event.
The occurrence of a sudden storm caused the cancellation of the outdoor concert.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're telling a story. An occurrence is like a specific thing that happened, like when your dog suddenly decided to eat your homework! It's the specific event.
👶 For kids: When something happens, that's an occurrence!
More Examples
The frequent occurrences of power outages are a major problem.
The doctor noted the patient's history of medical occurrences.
How It's Used
"The unexpected occurrence of rain disrupted the outdoor event."
"The occurrence of a solar flare can disrupt satellite communications."
"The report details the occurrence of several workplace accidents."
The act of something happening or taking place.
/əˈkʌrəns/
The action or fact of occurring.
The rapid occurrence of the fire spread quickly.
💡 Simply: It's the process of something appearing or showing up. Like the occurrence of a new idea in your mind.
👶 For kids: When something is actually happening, it's an occurrence!
More Examples
The report highlighted the unexpected occurrence of errors in the data.
We are tracking the frequency and occurrence of extreme weather events.
How It's Used
"The occurrence of a specific disease was monitored over time."
"The co-occurrence of words reveals patterns in language use."
Synonyms
Appearance
Event
Happening
Incident
Instance
Emergence
Incidence
Idioms & expressions
an act of God
An event that is caused by natural forces and cannot be prevented or predicted.
"The storm was considered an act of God, so the insurance company wasn't responsible for damages."
From Middle English *occurren(ce)*, from Old French *occurrence*, from Latin *occurrentia*, the neuter plural of *occurrens* (present participle of *occurro*, "I run to/towards, meet, happen").
The word 'occurrence' has been used since the 14th century in English, originally referring to the act of running or meeting. Its meaning evolved to describe an event or incident.
Memory tip
Think of 'happening' or 'event'.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: currere