ENGLISH
REFERENCE

encounters

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɪnˈkaʊnɝz// UK //ɛnkˈaʊntəz// en·coun·ters

n. unexpected or brief meetings with someone or something. You use this when you run into a person or experience a situation without planning it first.

n. brief or unexpected meetings with people or things; instances of experiencing something, often for the first time. Frequently implies a lack of prior arrangement or a sense of discovery.


SIMPLE

The traveler had several strange encounters during his trip.

CONTEXTUAL

Brief encounters with local wildlife are common for hikers who explore the northern trails during the early morning hours.

COMPLEX

The memoir details the author's numerous encounters with influential thinkers of the era, illustrating how these fleeting interactions gradually reshaped her own philosophical outlook.

Synonyms
Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'with' to indicate the person or object met.

© 2026 English Reference