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Meaning & use

occurring

verb, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/əˈkɜː.rɪŋ/
US/əˈkɝː.ɪŋ/

“occurring” is a form of “occur”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    Happening, especially in a way that was not planned.

    Grammar: Present participle of occur; it takes no object: the problem is occurring.

    Patterns

    • something is occurring
    • occurring in something

    Earthquakes keep occurring along this fault line.

    The errors occurring in the system need urgent attention.

    What is occurring in the garden at night?

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Happening or found in a particular way, often by itself in nature.

    Grammar: Often appears after an adverb, like naturally occurring.

    Patterns

    • naturally occurring something

    Naturally occurring minerals give the water its taste.

    The doctor checked for any recurring or newly occurring symptoms.

    Occurring events are logged automatically in the software.

  3. verbintransitive

    Coming into someone's mind as a thought, as in an idea that is occurring to them.

    Grammar: Usually followed by to someone: it is occurring to me.

    Patterns

    • it is occurring to someone that something

    It is occurring to me that we forgot the tickets.

    The same thought kept occurring to her on the long drive.

    A better plan is occurring to him now.

Word forms

base formoccur
third person singularoccurs
past tenseoccurred
-ing formoccurring

Common combinations

naturally occurring
Salt is a naturally occurring mineral.
commonly occurring
Colds are commonly occurring illnesses in winter.
regularly occurring
The team meets for regularly occurring check-ins.
occurring simultaneously
Two events were occurring simultaneously on opposite sides of town.
occurring frequently
Power cuts have been occurring frequently this month.

Synonyms and how they differ

happening
Happening is the casual, everyday choice, while occurring sounds slightly more formal.
taking place
Taking place is used for planned events, whereas occurring also fits accidents and natural events.
arising
Arising suggests something is emerging from a cause, such as a problem arising.

Word family

occur verb
to happen or exist
occurrence noun
an event or the fact of something happening
recurrence noun
the repeated happening of something
recurring adjective
happening again and again

Commonly confused: occurring or occuring?

occurring vs occuring

This is a common misspelling; the correct form is occurring with a double c and a double r.

Practice

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