Encountering: meaning, definitions and examples

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encountering

 

[ ɛnˈkaʊntərɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

meeting unexpectedly

To encounter means to meet or come upon someone or something unexpectedly. It can refer to a chance meeting with a person or an experience with a challenging situation. Encounters can be either positive or negative, depending on the circumstances.

Synonyms

come across, confront, face, meet.

Examples of usage

  • I encountered my old friend at the coffee shop.
  • The hikers encountered a bear during their trek.
  • She encountered difficulties while trying to solve the math problem.

Translations

Translations of the word "encountering" in other languages:

🇵🇹 encontrando

🇮🇳 सामना करना

🇩🇪 begegnen

🇮🇩 bertemu

🇺🇦 зустрічати

🇵🇱 napotkać

🇯🇵 遭遇する

🇫🇷 rencontrer

🇪🇸 encontrar

🇹🇷 karşılaşmak

🇰🇷 만나다

🇸🇦 مواجهة

🇨🇿 setkat se

🇸🇰 stretnúť

🇨🇳 遇到

🇸🇮 srečati

🇮🇸 móta

🇰🇿 кездесу

🇬🇪 შეხვედრა

🇦🇿 qarşılaşmaq

🇲🇽 encontrar

Etymology

The word 'encountering' originates from the Middle French word 'encontrer', which means to meet or come across. Its roots trace back to the Latin 'incontrāre', where 'in-' means 'in' and 'contrāre' means 'to counter' or 'oppose'. Over time, the term evolved in the English language to represent both the act of coming together with someone or something, often unexpectedly, and the experiences or challenges that arise during such meetings. It has taken on a broader meaning in various contexts, including philosophy, literature, and everyday communication.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,310, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.