occur

occur — verb

1. if an event takes place — usually one that was not planned or expected, such as

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

if an event takes place — usually one that was not planned or expected, such as an accident, a problem, or a natural process — we say that it occurs.

Example

The car crash occurred just after midnight on the highway near Taoyuan.

occur + time and place adverbials

Earthquakes occur frequently along the eastern coast of Taiwan.

subject is a natural event; adverb of frequency

Common collocations
  • occur naturally
  • occur frequently
  • occur unexpectedly
  • an accident occurs
  • a problem occurs
Synonyms
  • happen

    everyday register; works for both planned and unplanned events

  • take place

    neutral; preferred for scheduled or organised events

  • arise

    formal; used for problems, questions, or opportunities that come into being

Grammar Patterns

occur (no object)

occur + adverbial of time/place

Usage Note

More formal than 'happen'; common in news reports, scientific writing, and police or medical statements. Subject is usually an event, not a person — you cannot say 'I occurred to win'.

Common Mistakes

I occurred a problem with my laptop.
A problem occurred with my laptop.
'occur' is intransitive, so the event is the subject, not the object.
The party will occur on Saturday.
The party will take place on Saturday.
'occur' sounds odd for planned social events; use it for unplanned or natural happenings.

2. to be present in a particular place, group, or set of things — for example, a ch

2.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to be present in a particular place, group, or set of things — for example, a chemical occurring in seawater, or a word occurring in old poems.

Example

Iron occurs naturally in many vegetables, especially in spinach and beans.

occur + naturally + in [place]; scientific use

The word 'thou' rarely occurs in modern Taiwanese English textbooks.

occur + adverb of frequency + in [collection]

Common collocations
  • occur naturally
  • occur in nature
  • occur in [a place]
  • occur among [a group]
  • rarely occur
Synonyms
  • be found

    everyday alternative for the same meaning

  • appear

    useful for things that show up in texts, lists, or images

  • exist

    broader; does not require a specific place

Antonyms
  • be absent

    for the meaning of not being present in a place or group

Grammar Patterns

occur in + place/group

occur among + group

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always needs a place, group, or collection (often introduced by 'in', 'among', or 'throughout'); the subject is something that exists rather than an event that takes place.

Common Mistakes

These birds occur.
These birds occur in coastal wetlands.
this sense needs an adverbial of place or group; without one, the sentence sounds incomplete.
Vitamin C is occurred in oranges.
Vitamin C occurs in oranges.
'occur' is never used in the passive.
Phrasal verbs

occur to (someone)

phrasal verb

if an idea, possibility, or memory occurs to you, it suddenly comes into your mind, often without you trying to think of it.

It suddenly occurred to Mei-ling that she had left her keys at the café.

Did it never occur to you that your brother might be telling the truth?

occur to

phrasal verb

When an idea or thought comes into your mind suddenly.

It never occurred to Maya that she could ask for help.

Did it occur to you that Brian might be telling the truth?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four describe events coming into being, but they differ in register and what kinds of subjects sound natural. 'Happen' is the everyday choice and works for almost any event, planned or not: 'What happened at school today?' 'Occur' is more formal and is preferred in news, science, or official writing, especially for accidents, errors, and natural events: 'The earthquake occurred at 3 a.m.' 'Take place' usually signals something that was scheduled or organised, like a meeting, ceremony, or concert: 'The wedding will take place in Tainan.' 'Arise' is also formal but narrower — it suggests something coming into being, often a problem, question, or chance: 'A new opportunity has arisen for our team.' Choose 'occur' when the tone is formal and the event is unexpected.

occur ↗happen ↗take place ↗arise ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • occur naturally
  • occur to someone
  • rarely occur
  • frequently occur
  • occur in nature

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinMiddle FrenchEnglish

Borrowed in the mid-1500s from Latin 'occurrere', built from 'ob-' (meaning 'against' or 'towards') and 'currere' (meaning 'to run'). The original Latin idea was of something running into your path — that is, presenting itself or showing up. From this came two related modern uses: an event presenting itself in time (sense 1, 'happen') and a thing presenting itself in a place (sense 2, 'be found'). The phrase 'it occurs to me' keeps the oldest flavour of all: a thought running into your mind unbidden.