occur

Occur is a verb meaning to happen or take place, and to come into existence. It can describe events, processes, or situations that come about, as well as ideas that arise in the mind. In addition, the phrase it occurs to someone means that a thought or realization comes to them, as in It occurred to me that I had left the door open. The sense it occurs to me is common in both everyday speech and formal writing, though it is more typical of narrative or explanatory prose than casual conversation.

Etymology and form: Occur comes from Latin occurere, meaning to meet or come to pass, via Old French occurre. It entered English in the 15th century and remains a steady, formal alternative to happen. The related noun is occurrence, used to denote an event or incident, especially if noteworthy. The present participle is occurring, the past tense occurred, and the third-person singular occurs.

Usage notes: Occur is generally intransitive, lacking a direct object. For emphasis on the moment when a thought arises, use it occurs to me, not it occurred to me in contexts that describe a general or recurring thought. In narrative or scientific writing, occur can describe events or phenomena that take place, often with time references such as yesterday, this year, or during the experiment.

Examples: Rain occurred during the night. The experiment produced several anomalies that occurred under specific conditions. It occurred to me that I had forgotten the appointment. The incident occurred yesterday near the city center.