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
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
On the contrary, all the inputs people encounter, by choice or by circumstance—the news reports, the novels, the films, the celebrities, the radio shows, the billboards, the histories, the satires, the amusements, the truths, the lies—tend to end up in the same place.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The encounter – with the Bucks needing a victory to keep their season alive – was played with the ferocity of a do-or-die game, with nothing to separate the two after 48 minutes.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
This underperformance is partly attributable to the issues encountered by its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in China due to lower demand.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
On the contrary, all the inputs people encounter, by choice or by circumstance—the news reports, the novels, the films, the celebrities, the radio shows, the billboards, the histories, the satires, the amusements, the truths, the lies—tend to end up in the same place.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
The American has been visibly unshackled by her acceptance that tennis results need not define her, taking her to her first Grand Slam title in Australia and to a 23-4 record in 2025 prior to this encounter.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The encounter – with the Bucks needing a victory to keep their season alive – was played with the ferocity of a do-or-die game, with nothing to separate the two after 48 minutes.
—Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 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 8 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
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