Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Encounter

//ɪnˈkaʊntə// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A meeting, especially one that is unplanned or unexpected.

    "Their encounter was a matter of chance."

  2. 2
    a casual meeting with a person or thing wordnet
  3. 3
    A hostile, often violent meeting; a confrontation, skirmish, or clash, as between combatants.
  4. 4
    a minor short-term fight wordnet
  5. 5
    A match between two opposing sides.

    "Andre Santos equalised and the outstanding Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead for the first time before Juan Mata's spectacular strike set up the finale for an enthralling encounter."

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    a hostile disagreement face-to-face wordnet
  2. 7
    A sexual encounter; sexual activity, especially unplanned or unexpected, between two people who have not already established a sexual relationship with each other. In many cases, it does not lead to a relationship, and thus is utterly transient. A sexual encounter can be consensual or non-consensual; in the latter case, it is known as sexual assault. A consensual sexual encounter that happens only once is commonly known as a one-night stand.

    "Though Mr. Cosby described the sexual encounter in 2004 as consensual, Ms. Constand said she was too intoxicated to physically or verbally resist."

  3. 8
    a casual or unexpected convergence wordnet
  4. 9
    The period of a space mission during which it carries out its data-gathering objectives.
  5. 10
    An extrajudicial killing or execution. India

    "Telangana Labour and Employment Minister Malla Reddy on Tuesday said that the guilty person in the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Hyderabad "will be nabbed and will be killed in an encounter"."

Verb
  1. 1
    To meet (someone) or find (something), especially unexpectedly. transitive

    "It fits Ioues ſonne / VVraſtle vvith Lyons, and to tugge vvith Beares, / Grapple vvith Dragons, and incounter VVhales."

  2. 2
    contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle wordnet
  3. 3
    To confront (someone or something) face to face. transitive
  4. 4
    come together wordnet
  5. 5
    To meet one another. intransitive, rare

    "[…] yet when the brother and the sister had encountered, according to the set appointment, none of these impassionedments had been repeated."

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    come upon, as if by accident; meet with wordnet
  2. 7
    To engage in conflict, as with an enemy. intransitive

    "Three armies encountered at Waterloo."

  3. 8
    be beset by wordnet
  4. 9
    To kill or execute someone extrajudicially. India, euphemistic, transitive

    "Speaking to the media, Reddy said, "He (Accused in 6-year-old rape and murder case) should be encountered. We will nab the accused and will encounter him. We will stand by the victim's family. We console them and will provide aid to the family. We will encounter him (the accused).""

  5. 10
    experience as a reaction wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English encountren, from Anglo-Norman encountrer, Old French encontrer (“to confront”), from encontre (“against, counter to”), from Late Latin incontrā (“in front of”) itself from Latin in (“in”) + contrā (“against”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English encountren, from Anglo-Norman encountrer, Old French encontrer (“to confront”), from encontre (“against, counter to”), from Late Latin incontrā (“in front of”) itself from Latin in (“in”) + contrā (“against”).

See also for "encounter"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: encounter