Phrasal verb
occur to
Definition
phrasal verb. When a thought or idea suddenly comes into your mind. You use this when you realize something you had not thought about before.
phrasal verb. To come into the mind of a person; to be realized or suggested. The verb is intransitive and requires the preposition 'to' to introduce the person experiencing the thought.
Examples
“It did not occur to me to check the weather forecast.”
“While she was walking to the station, it suddenly occurred to her that she had left the oven on.”
“It never occurred to the board of directors that their primary competitor would launch such a disruptive product so late in the fiscal year.”
Examples
simple
“It did not occur to me to check the weather forecast.”
contextual
“While she was walking to the station, it suddenly occurred to her that she had left the oven on.”
complex
“It never occurred to the board of directors that their primary competitor would launch such a disruptive product so late in the fiscal year.”
Usage
This phrase is almost always used with 'it' as the subject followed by a 'that' clause or an infinitive.
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'think of' or 'realize'; 'occur to' suggests the idea arrives spontaneously rather than through active effort.
Pitfall
It occurred me that I was late.
It occurred to me that I was late.
The preposition 'to' must always be used before the person who has the thought.
Phrasal verb
Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
occur + to + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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