Word
occurrence
Phoneticsoc·cur·rence, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈkɝəns/
UK/əkˈɜːɹəns/
Definitions
01an event
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that happens, especially an event that is not planned.
n. an instance of something happening; a specific event or incident.
“Power cuts are a common occurrence during the stormy winter months.”
“The sudden appearance of the rare bird in a suburban garden was such an unusual occurrence that it drew birdwatchers from across the country.”
Usage
Often used with adjectives like 'common', 'rare', or 'everyday'.
Pitfall
It was a strange occurance.
It was a strange occurrence.
The word is frequently misspelled; remember it has a double 'c' and a double 'r'.
02existence or frequency
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic · Technical
n. the fact of something existing or being found in a place.
n. the fact or frequency of something appearing or existing within a particular place or dataset.
“Scientists are studying the occurrence of microplastics in the local river.”
“The researchers noted a high occurrence of specific mineral deposits along the fault line, suggesting a complex geological history.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Teaching tip
In academic writing, this sense is used to discuss how often a specific feature or substance appears in a sample.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03linguistic aspect
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical · Formal
n. the way a verb describes an action happening over time.
n. the lexical aspect or 'aktionsart' of a verb or predicate, specifically regarding how it unfolds in time.
“The professor explained how the occurrence of the verb changed its meaning.”
“In formal semantics, the occurrence of a predicate is analyzed based on whether the action has a natural endpoint or continues indefinitely.”
Usage
Used as a technical term in linguistics and grammar.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialized term; most learners will only encounter it in advanced linguistics textbooks.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “occurrence” in context.
Verb
01. explain occurrence
“Scientists are working to explain the occurrence of these rare atmospheric phenomena.”
verb + noun
02. predict occurrence
“Advanced algorithms can now predict the occurrence of seismic activity with greater accuracy.”
verb + noun
Noun
03. occurrence of
“The high occurrence of the disease in this region has prompted a public health investigation.”
noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“From 2001 to 2003, my laboratory studied the occurrence of those protozoa at six sewage treatment plants – one each in Arizona and California and four in Florida.” “Machine learning requires ample training data in order to make future predictions, but extreme events are by nature rare occurrences.” Etymology
From Middle French occurrence, from Medieval Latin occurrentia. Morphologically occur + -ence.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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