Encounter Definition

ĕn-kountər
encountered, encounters
noun
encounters
A direct meeting, as in conflict or battle.
Webster's New World
A meeting with another, esp. when unexpected or by chance.
Webster's New World
A hostile or adversarial confrontation.
A tense naval encounter.
American Heritage

(sports) A match between two opposing sides.

Wiktionary
verb
encountered, encounters
To meet unexpectedly; come upon.
Webster's New World
To meet in conflict or battle.
Webster's New World
To meet accidentally or in opposition.
Webster's New World
To experience or undergo.
We have encountered numerous obstacles.
American Heritage
To meet with; face (difficulties, trouble, etc.)
Webster's New World
adjective
Designating or of a small group that meets for a kind of therapy in personal interrelationship, involving a release of inhibitions, an open exchange of intimate feelings, etc.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Encounter

Noun

Singular:
encounter
Plural:
encounters

Origin of Encounter

  • Middle English encountre from Old French from encontrer to meet from Late Latin incontrāre Latin in- in en–1 Latin contrā against kom in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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