en·coun·ter
in-ˈkau̇n-tər 
en-
encountered; encountering
in-ˈkau̇n-t(ə-)riŋ
en-
1
a
: to meet as an adversary or enemy
b
: to engage in conflict with
2
: to come upon face-to-face
3
: to come upon or experience especially unexpectedly
encounter difficulties
: to meet especially by chance
1
: a meeting between hostile factions or persons : a sudden often violent clash
an encounter between the police and demonstrators
2
a
: a chance meeting
an accidental encounter
b
: a particular kind of meeting or experience with another person
a romantic encounter
3
: a coming into the vicinity of a celestial body
the Martian encounter of a spacecraft
Synonyms
Examples of encounter in a Sentence
Verb
We encountered problems early in the project.
The pilot told us that we might encounter turbulence during the flight.
Her suggestion has encountered a lot of opposition.
Noun
a chance encounter with a famous writer
The tour boat had a close encounter with a breeching humpback whale.
There was a violent encounter between fans of the opposing teams.
It was her first encounter with cigarettes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Most who have encountered him want to put the Han Lo experience behind them.
—Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
Kristen Taketa, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024
The spacecraft is scheduled to spend 18 months studying Apophis during and after its Earth encounter, providing unprecedented insights into how planetary flybys can reshape such ancient space rocks.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encounter 
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Verb
Midway through the first episode of Say Nothing, Dolours Price encounters a fiery scene in West Belfast: a mob of Northern Irish citizens chucking petrol bombs at a police barracks.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Most who have encountered him want to put the Han Lo experience behind them.
—Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
As a result, migrant encounters decreased along the southwestern border by 55%, and deportations increased, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s latest data.
—Kristen Taketa, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024
The spacecraft is scheduled to spend 18 months studying Apophis during and after its Earth encounter, providing unprecedented insights into how planetary flybys can reshape such ancient space rocks.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for encounter
Dictionary Entries Near encounter
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encounter. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
encounter
1 of 2 verb
en·coun·ter
in-ˈkau̇nt-ər
encountered; encountering
-ˈkau̇nt-ə-riŋ
-ˈkau̇n-triŋ
1
: to engage in a struggle with as an enemy or rival
2
: to come upon face-to-face : meet
3
: to come upon unexpectedly
encountered problems
encounter
2 of 2 noun1
: a clash between enemies or rivals
also
: a very unfriendly meeting
had an encounter with the boss
2
a
: a chance meeting
b
: a meeting face-to-face
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