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occurred

v.
US //əˈkɝd// UK //əkˈɜːd// oc·curred
  1. 1 happened (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    happened or took place, especially by chance or at a specific time.

    took place or happened; often used to describe events, accidents, or natural phenomena.

    Example

    The power cut occurred during the storm last night.

    Example

    The most significant breakthroughs in the research occurred during the final months of the three-year study.

    Usage

    This verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
    Pitfall
    The accident was occurred at midnight.
    The accident occurred at midnight.

    The verb 'occur' is intransitive and cannot be used in the passive voice with 'be'.

  2. 2 came to mind (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    came into your mind as a thought or an idea.

    entered one's mind or came into one's thoughts; typically used with the preposition 'to'.

    Example

    It suddenly occurred to me that I had left my keys in the car.

    Example

    It only occurred to the manager much later that the discrepancy in the accounts might have been a deliberate error.

    Usage

    Usually follows the pattern 'it occurred to [someone] that...'.
  3. 3 existed in a place (v.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Science

    was found or existed in a particular place or situation.

    existed or was found to be present within a specific environment or context.

    Example

    These rare plants occurred only in the high mountains.

    Example

    The researchers noted that the mineral occurred naturally in the soil samples collected from the volcanic region.

    Usage

    Commonly used in scientific or technical reports to describe the presence of a substance or species.

Last updated June 19, 2026