encounter

in-KOWN-tur/ɪnˈkaʊntɚ/UKin-KOWN-tuh/ɪnˈkaʊntə/

Verbencounters, encountering, encountered

Noun pluralencounters

11 meanings of encounter

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To meet someone or find something by chance, often without planning it.
Like bumping into someone you didn't expect to see.
We encounter strange problems every time we test the new machine.
She encountered an old friend at the train station.
Similarmeet, face, experience, find
Oppositeavoid
Note
2
nouncountable
A meeting between people that happens by chance and was not planned.
Like running into someone you didn't plan to see.
Their first encounter happened at a small coffee shop.
He still talks about that strange encounter on the bus.
Similarmeeting, brush
Note
3
verbtransitive
To face someone or something directly, often in a tense or difficult situation.
Like coming face to face with something you have to deal with.
The hikers encountered a bear on the narrow trail.
Soldiers encounter danger every day on the front line.
Similarconfront, face, meet
Oppositeavoid, evade
Note
4
nouncountable
A hostile or violent meeting between people who fight or clash.
Like two boxers meeting in the ring.
The two armies had a fierce encounter near the river.
Their tense encounter on the street nearly turned into a fight.
Similarclash, confrontation, skirmish, fight, engagement
5
verbintransitive
To fight or take part in a battle, especially against an enemy.
Like two teams meeting to battle it out.
The two fleets encountered near the coast at dawn.
Rival forces often encounter along the disputed border.
Similarclash, fight, battle, skirmish, engage
Note
6
nouncountable
A game or match between two teams or players.
Like a big game between two rival teams.
The encounter between the two teams ended in a draw.
Fans waited all season for this big encounter.
Similarmatch, game, fixture, contest, clash
Note
7
nouncountable
A sexual meeting between two people, often unplanned and not part of a relationship.
Their encounter that night was a one-time thing and never happened again.
She had a brief encounter with a man she met on a trip.
Similarfling, liaison, tryst
Note
8
nouncountable
The part of a space mission when a spacecraft gathers its main data near a target.
Like a quick stop on a trip where you take all your photos before driving on.
The probe sent back stunning images during its encounter with the comet.
Scientists waited years for the spacecraft's encounter with the distant planet.
Note
9
verbeuphemisticIndiatransitive
A polite way of saying to kill someone without a trial, used in India.
Even a man accused of murder has the right to a trial, so the police must not encounter him.
The family says police encountered their son on a lonely road and then called it self-defense.
Similarkill, eliminate
Note
10
nounIndiacountable
A killing carried out by police or others without a trial.
The family demanded justice after the encounter that killed their son.
Reports of a fake encounter sparked protests across the city.
Note

Less common meaning

11
verbrareintransitive
To meet each other, especially by chance.
Like two paths crossing for a moment.
Old rivals sometimes encounter and put their differences aside.
The two groups encountered briefly before going their separate ways.
Similarmeet, converge
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through Middle English and Old French from Late Latin incontrā meaning 'in front of', built from Latin in ('in') and contrā ('against').