en·coun·ter
in-ˈkau̇n-tər 
en-
encountered; encountering
in-ˈkau̇n-t(ə-)riŋ
en-
1
a
: to meet as an adversary or enemy
b
: to engage in conflict with
2
: to come upon face-to-face
3
: to come upon or experience especially unexpectedly
encounter difficulties
: to meet especially by chance
1
: a meeting between hostile factions or persons : a sudden often violent clash
an encounter between the police and demonstrators
2
a
: a chance meeting
an accidental encounter
b
: a particular kind of meeting or experience with another person
a romantic encounter
3
: a coming into the vicinity of a celestial body
the Martian encounter of a spacecraft
Examples of encounter in a Sentence
Verb
We encountered problems early in the project.
The pilot told us that we might encounter turbulence during the flight.
Her suggestion has encountered a lot of opposition.
Noun
a chance encounter with a famous writer
The tour boat had a close encounter with a breeching humpback whale.
There was a violent encounter between fans of the opposing teams.
It was her first encounter with cigarettes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charna Flam, People.com, 24 May 2025
Police did not encounter Ernest Holmes, but an officer patrolling the neighborhood reported encountering a gray Jeep Renegade driving slowly by Shina Holmes' residence, then turning around and leaving.
—John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025
Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025
She and her fellow hybrids are sent to investigate the site, leading to the encounter of mysterious life forms — including one ferocious Xenomorph.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
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.
Verb
Related Stories 3 Killed, 5 Injured in Mass Stabbing at German Festival
At Least 28 Injured in Possible Attack in Munich Ahead of World Leaders Meeting
Germany has encountered a rise in knife crime in recent years.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 24 May 2025
Police did not encounter Ernest Holmes, but an officer patrolling the neighborhood reported encountering a gray Jeep Renegade driving slowly by Shina Holmes' residence, then turning around and leaving.
—John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 23 May 2025
Noun
Defusing such close encounters can help reduce risk for humans—and for bears, too, by reducing the need for government conservation officers to shoot bears deemed a public danger, a scenario that led to the death of 24 grizzly bears in British Columbia in 2024.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025
She and her fellow hybrids are sent to investigate the site, leading to the encounter of mysterious life forms — including one ferocious Xenomorph.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encounter. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
encounter
1 of 2 verb
en·coun·ter
in-ˈkau̇nt-ər
encountered; encountering
-ˈkau̇nt-ə-riŋ
-ˈkau̇n-triŋ
1
: to engage in a struggle with as an enemy or rival
2
: to come upon face-to-face : meet
3
: to come upon unexpectedly
encountered problems
encounter
2 of 2 noun1
: a clash between enemies or rivals
also
: a very unfriendly meeting
had an encounter with the boss
2
a
: a chance meeting
b
: a meeting face-to-face
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share