What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recurrent
Example
He has recurrent nightmares about the accident. [recurrent: adjective]
Example
The company is facing recurrent financial difficulties. [recurrent: adjective]
recurring
Example
The meeting is a recurring event every Monday. [recurring: adjective]
Example
The recurring joke throughout the movie made us laugh every time. [recurring: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recurring is more commonly used than recurrent in everyday language. Recurring is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while recurrent is less common and often used in specific fields such as medicine or problem-solving.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recurrent and recurring?
Both recurrent and recurring are formal words and can be used in academic or professional contexts. However, recurrent may be more technical and specialized in certain fields, while recurring is more general and can be used in various contexts.
