occur

verb

ə-ˈkər How to pronounce occur (audio)
Definition of occurnext
as in to happen
to take place let me know when the lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of occur Most workers earn the 40 credits needed for retirement after about 10 years of work, and those credits stay with you for life, whether or not those 10 years occurred consecutively. — Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026 The medical review helped investigators establish when Michael’s fatal injuries occurred. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 This past Monday, yet another fatal stabbing occurred in the early morning hours on Bond Street in Hartford where the Hartford Police Department says 32-year-old Nykole Tellado was involved in an outdoor dispute with another woman and a man. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 Prior to last week's strikes, which took place in international waters off the coast of South America, the most recent attack had occurred in late June. — Laura Romero, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occur
happen
Verb
  • His son Jack, who had attended the event in California, was instrumental in making these mazes happen, Universal officials have said.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Set in the high-stakes world of academia, The Love Hypothesis explores the delicate dance between science and emotion, reason and risk—and what happens when love defies logic.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of happen

Phrases Containing occur

Browse Nearby Words

occupying
occur
occurred
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Occur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occur. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All