encounter
encounter — verb
- encounterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- encountershe / she / it
- encounteredpast simple
- encountering-ing form
1. to meet someone by chance when you did not expect or plan to see them
to meet someone by chance when you did not expect or plan to see them
Yuna encountered her old piano teacher at the train station in Seoul.
encounter + person + at [place] for chance meetings
Diego was surprised to encounter a childhood friend at the business conference in Mexico City.
While hiking in the forest, Wei encountered a group of birdwatchers from his own hometown.
- bump into
informal; suggests a very casual, accidental meeting
- run into
informal; similar to 'bump into', very common in everyday speech
- come across
can be used for people or things; slightly more formal than 'run into'
文法句型
encounter + person
passive: be encountered
用法筆記
The past-tense form 'encountered' is very common. This sense emphasises that the meeting was unplanned — do not use it for meetings you arranged in advance.
常見錯誤
2. to face or go through a difficult situation, problem, or unpleasant experience —
to face or go through a difficult situation, problem, or unpleasant experience — for example, encountering technical problems, strong resistance, or a shortage of supplies
The mountain rescue team encountered heavy snow and strong winds on the way up.
encounter + harsh weather / natural obstacle
Priya encountered a lot of resistance when she tried to introduce the new software at work.
The small clinic encountered a serious shortage of medicine during the rainy season.
Kofi encountered several technical problems while setting up the computer system for the school library.
- face
slightly more general; can be positive or negative
- come up against
emphasises the obstacle-like nature of what you meet
- experience
broader; can be used for any type of experience, good or bad
- avoid
to stay away from a problem or difficulty
文法句型
encounter + problem/difficulty/obstacle
用法筆記
The object of this sense is almost always something negative — problems, difficulties, resistance, obstacles, setbacks. Do not use it for positive experiences.
常見錯誤
3. to meet and fight or compete against an enemy, opponent, or rival in a situation
to meet and fight or compete against an enemy, opponent, or rival in a situation involving conflict or competition
The basketball team will encounter their strongest rival in the championship final next week.
encounter + rival/opponent in competition context
The patrol encountered enemy soldiers near the border just after midnight.
Amir encountered fierce opposition from the other party during the debate on the new law.
- avoid
to stay away from an opponent or confrontation
文法句型
encounter + enemy/opponent/rival
用法筆記
This sense is more formal and dramatic than 'fight' or 'face'. It is common in news reports about military operations, sports previews, and political debates.
常見錯誤
encounter — noun
- encountersingular
- encountersplural
1. an unexpected meeting between people who did not plan to see each other
an unexpected meeting between people who did not plan to see each other
A chance encounter at a small bookstore in Kaohsiung brought two strangers together when they reached for the same book.
first encounter / chance encounter — often used to describe how a relationship began
A brief encounter with an old neighbour on the bus made Clara's day much brighter.
The documentary describes a chance encounter between a fisherman and a lost whale off the coast of Japan.
- meeting
general term; can be planned or unplanned
- rendezvous
always planned; formal or romantic
- brush
a brief, light contact; 'a brush with fame' is a fixed phrase
文法句型
encounter with + person
encounter between + plural
用法筆記
Often modified by adjectives describing the nature of the meeting: 'brief encounter', 'chance encounter', 'unexpected encounter', 'first encounter'. The preposition 'with' introduces the person met.
2. a fight, battle, or angry disagreement between people, groups, or armed forces
a fight, battle, or angry disagreement between people, groups, or armed forces
Three soldiers were injured during a violent encounter with rebel fighters near the border.
violent encounter with [opposing group] — hostile confrontation
Lukas had a tense encounter with his neighbour over the fence that divides their gardens.
The encounter between the protesters and the police lasted for several hours before calm returned.
- clash
emphasises the violent or激烈 nature of the meeting
- confrontation
focuses on the direct face-to-face challenge
- skirmish
a small, short fight, usually between small groups of soldiers
- reconciliation
a peaceful resolution after a conflict
文法句型
encounter with + adversary
encounter between + groups
用法筆記
Stronger and more dramatic than 'meeting' or 'argument'. Often appears in news reports about military clashes, violent protests, or serious disputes. The preposition 'with' introduces the opposing party.