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occur

When using "occur" to mean "happen," it is more formal than the word "happen." You will often see it in news reports or official documents. When used to describe an idea coming to mind, always use the pattern "occur TO [someone]." For example: "It occurred to me..."

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon; Karen is at a PTA meeting, David is in his home office.
Karen Smith

Did it ever occur to you that we actually need the car tonight?

Karen Smith
David Smith
David Smith

My bad. I'll pivot and grab an Uber.

💡
Karen uses 'occur to you' (definition 3) to passive-aggressively criticize David's lack of foresight. David responds with 'my bad' (slang for apology) and 'pivot' (a corporate buzzword he uses incorrectly in a domestic context).

Meanings

verb (intransitive)

To happen; to take place.

"The accident occurred at approximately 3:00 PM."

verb (intransitive)

To exist or be found in a particular place or situation.

"These rare minerals occur naturally in the volcanic rock."

verb (intransitive)

To come into someone's mind; to be realized.

"It didn't occur to me that she might be lying."

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error