encounter

1 of 2

verb

en·​coun·​ter in-ˈkau̇n-tər How to pronounce encounter (audio)
en-
encountered; encountering in-ˈkau̇n-t(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce encounter (audio)
en-

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to meet especially by chance

encounter

2 of 2

noun

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
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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English encountren, from Anglo-French encuntrer, from Medieval Latin incontrare, from Late Latin incontra toward, from Latin in- + contra against — more at counter

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of encounter was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encounter. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

encounter

1 of 2 verb
en·​coun·​ter in-ˈkau̇nt-ər How to pronounce encounter (audio)
encountered; encountering -ˈkau̇nt-ə-riŋ How to pronounce encounter (audio)
-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 noun
1
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on encounter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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