• Dictionary
  • List of exercises
  • Exercises by level

Meaning of encounter in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ɪnˈkaʊn(t)ər/

    US accent Play buttonYour browser does not support the audio element.

    How to pronounce encounter in American English, in context ▾
    Use the controls below Controls button to browse different examples of pronunciation.

    UK accent Play buttonYour browser does not support the audio element.

    How to pronounce encounter in British English, in context ▾
    Use the controls below Controls button to browse different examples of pronunciation.
  1. Verb

    encounter

    Etymology

    Middle English (in the senses ‘meet as an adversary’ and ‘a meeting of adversaries’; formerly also as incounter): from Old French encontrer (verb), encontre (noun), based on Latin in-‘in’ + contra‘against’

    Definitions

    1. come together

    Examples

    • « I'll probably see you at the meeting »
    • « How nice to see you again! »
  2. 2. come upon, as if by accident

    Examples

    • « meet with »
    • « We find this idea in Plato »
    • « I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here »
    • « She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day »
  3. 3. be beset by

    Examples

    • « The project ran into numerous financial difficulties »
  4. 4. experience as a reaction

    Examples

    • « My proposal met with much opposition »
  5. 5. contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle

    Examples

    • « Princeton plays Yale this weekend »
    • « Charlie likes to play Mary »
  6. Noun

    encounter

    Definitions

    1. a minor short-term fight
  7. 2. a casual or unexpected convergence

    Examples

    • « he still remembers their meeting in Paris »
    • « there was a brief encounter in the hallway »
  8. 3. a casual meeting with a person of thing
  9. 4. a hostile disagreement face-to-face

Navigation

    Books Teacher Resources About Contact

Lessons

    Beginner Intermediate Advanced
© 2021, NAGEL PTY LTD 🇦🇺 • Terms • Privacy