# encounter

/ɪnˈkaʊnɝ/ (US) · /ɛnkˈaʊntɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/encounter
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to meet or find

verb · CEFR B2

to meet someone or find something, especially when you did not plan to.

For teachers: to meet or come across someone or something unexpectedly. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- We encountered several problems while trying to set up the new software.
- During the expedition, the team encountered a rare species of orchid that had not been documented in this region for decades.

### 2. to face a challenge

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to experience or deal with something difficult.

For teachers: to be faced with or experience something, typically something unpleasant or difficult to manage.

- The project encountered strong opposition from the local community.
- The proposed legislation is expected to encounter significant resistance when it reaches the upper house for debate.

### 3. unexpected meeting

noun · CEFR B2

a meeting that happens by chance.

For teachers: an unexpected or casual meeting with someone or something.

- A brief encounter with an old friend at the airport made my day.
- The memoir describes a chance encounter with a famous poet that changed the course of the author's career.

### 4. a conflict or fight

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a violent or difficult meeting between two people or groups.

For teachers: a hostile or adversarial meeting, such as a skirmish, clash, or intense competition.

- The protest ended after a brief encounter between the police and the crowd.
- The border patrol reported a violent encounter with armed smugglers in the early hours of the morning.

### 5. sports match

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a game or match between two teams.

For teachers: a sporting competition or match between two opposing sides.

- The two teams are preparing for their next encounter in the final.
- Fans are eagerly anticipating the weekend's encounter between the league leaders and their historic rivals.

### 6. extrajudicial killing

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect

a situation where the police kill a suspected criminal without a trial.

For teachers: a euphemism for an extrajudicial killing by the police or security forces.

- The news reported that the suspect was killed in a police encounter.
- Human rights organizations have called for an independent inquiry into the recent encounter in the outskirts of the city.

Usage: Specific to Indian English and South Asian media contexts.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly regional; outside of South Asia, 'encounter' would not be understood as a killing.

## Examples

- The team won their first encounter of the season.
- The hiker had a brief encounter with a bear while walking through the woods yesterday morning.
- Despite their long-standing rivalry, the post-match encounter between the two captains was marked by a surprising degree of mutual respect and professional courtesy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.