What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
repeating
Example
He kept repeating the same mistake over and over again. [repeating: verb]
Example
The teacher noticed a repeating pattern in the student's behavior. [repeating: adjective]
recurring
Example
Her recurring headaches were becoming a cause for concern. [recurring: adjective]
Example
The theme of love and loss was recurring throughout the novel. [recurring: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recurring is more commonly used than repeating in everyday language. Recurring is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while repeating is less common and refers to a specific type of repetition.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between repeating and recurring?
Both repeating and recurring can be used in formal or informal contexts, but recurring is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
