recurrent

adjective

re·​cur·​rent ri-ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce recurrent (audio)
-ˈkə-rənt
1
: running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course
used of various nerves and branches of vessels in the arms and legs
2
: returning or happening time after time
recurrent complaints
recurrently adverb

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Recurrent vs. Recurring

Is there a difference between recurring and recurrent? As is so often the case with nearly identical words, the answer is "yes and no." Both words are most commonly used in the sense "happening time after time." But recurrent, the more commonly-used of the two, tends to appear more often in medical contexts, as in “recurrent fevers” or “recurrent cancer.” It also has a specialized anatomical sense, "running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course,” as in “a recurrent artery,” that recurring does not share. There are certainly circumstances in which either recurrent or recurring could be used; pain or needs might be described as either recurrent or recurring. But even in such cases, there may be subtle differences which you may wish to pay attention to. Recurrent tends to suggest a coming back of something that has existed before, whereas recurring often implies simply a repeated occurrence.

Examples of recurrent in a Sentence

The loss of innocence is a recurrent theme in his stories. had recurrent problems with the computer for months and finally junked it
Recent Examples on the Web Before inducing UTIs in mice, researchers analyzed bladder biopsies from women with a history of recurrent UTIs who were experiencing symptoms (pelvic pain and frequent urination) without detectable bacteria in their urine, and a control group without a history of recurrent UTIs. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024 Kleptomania is a mental health disorder characterized by a recurrent urge to steal items that are typically not needed for personal use or for their monetary value. Mark Travers, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 At its core, that means that before any flight attendant takes to the skies they are required to undergo extensive safety training that typically lasts between four and six weeks—plus a recurrent training each year. Bobby Laurie, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2024 The couple were not experiencing their most fulfilling moments, as Ronaldo’s recurrent injuries were the dominant topic. Assile Toufaily, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Dressed in glittery cocktail dresses, with comparably slinky-looking garb for the men (Christine Darch is the costume designer), the cast strikes many unison and recurrent stances. Celia Wren, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 The American poet has been a recurrent inspiration of Browne’s, most recently figuring in his pre-fall lineups. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024 If people get recurrent outbreaks, the preliminary flu-like symptoms tend to fade or go away entirely over time. Mark Hay, SELF, 26 Jan. 2024 While all treatments have benefits and risks, these treatments hold promise for enhanced long-term outcomes for patients with advanced and recurrent cervical cancer. Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recurrent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin recurrent-, recurrens, present participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" — more at recur

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recurrent was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near recurrent

Cite this Entry

“Recurrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recurrent. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

recurrent

adjective
re·​cur·​rent ri-ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce recurrent (audio)
-ˈkə-rənt
: returning from time to time
a recurrent fever
recurrently adverb

Medical Definition

recurrent

adjective
re·​cur·​rent -ˈkər-ənt, -ˈkə-rənt How to pronounce recurrent (audio)
1
: running or turning back in a direction opposite to a former course
used of various nerves and branches of vessels in the arms and legs
2
: returning or happening time after time
recurrent pain
recurrently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on recurrent

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