Recurrence: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in contexts where something happens again and is often unwanted or problematic, such as in medical or technical issues.

• The recurrence of her symptoms worried the doctor.
• The recurrence of the bug in the software frustrated the users.

Refers to the act of doing or saying something again, commonly used in educational or instructional settings, as well as to emphasize monotony.

• Repetition is key to mastering a new language.
• The constant repetition of the same task made the job boring.

Appropriate when something or someone that has been absent shows up again, often unexpectedly.

• The mysterious reappearance of the ancient artifact puzzled the archaeologists.
• Her reappearance at the party surprised everyone.

Best used when someone or something comes back to a place or situation they previously left, can be both positive and negative.

• Her return to her hometown was greeted with celebration.
• The villain's return caused fear among the townspeople.

Used when emphasizing or stressing a point by stating it again, often in formal or serious settings.

• The teacher's reiteration of the rules ensured everyone understood them.
• The boss's reiteration of the company's goals helped clarify their mission.

Used when referring to something happening again, especially after a period of time. Often used in medical, academic, and technical contexts.

• The recurrence of the patient's symptoms concerned the doctor.
• There has been a recurrence of flooding in the area.

A general term used for something coming back or happening again after a period of absence. It is widely applicable in different contexts.

• She eagerly awaited the return of her favorite TV show.
• The swallows' return marks the beginning of spring.

Commonly used in medical or addiction recovery contexts to describe a return to a previous state, often worse, after a period of improvement. It has a negative connotation.

• After months of sobriety, he had a relapse and started drinking again.
• The patient suffered a relapse two weeks after being discharged from the hospital.

Used to describe a rising or increase in activity, interest, or energy after a period of decline. It often has a positive connotation.

• The city has seen a resurgence of interest in public parks and green spaces.
• There has been a resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records.

Used to describe a sudden and often intense increase in activity, symptoms, or emotions, frequently in medical or conflict situations. It usually carries a negative connotation.

• She experienced a flare-up of her arthritis after the long hike.
• There was a flare-up of violence in the city last night.

Recurrence is best used when describing something that happens again, usually periodically or after a lapse of time, particularly in medical or natural contexts.

• The recurrence of his symptoms worried the doctor.
• Rainfall recurrence is expected every few weeks during the monsoon season.

Repetition refers to the act of doing or saying something again, often used in both neutral and negative contexts. It can refer to habits, practices, or communication.

• The repetition of the daily exercises improved her strength.
• The constant repetition of the same mistake frustrated him.

Reiteration is used when referring to the action of repeating something for emphasis or clarity, often in speech or writing.

• His reiteration of the instructions ensured everyone understood the task.
• The teacher's reiteration of the key points helped the students with their exams.

Redundancy often has a negative connotation and is used to describe something that is unnecessarily repeated, adding no new value or information, particularly in communication or organizational contexts.

• The report was criticized for its redundancy.
• He was laid off due to job redundancy.

Iteration is commonly used in technical or mathematical contexts when referring to repeating processes or cycles, especially in programming or design.

• The software went through several iterations before the final release.
• This algorithm requires multiple iterations to converge on a solution.