encounter
encounter — verb
1. to see or meet someone by chance, when you had no expectation of seeing them
to see or meet someone by chance, when you had no expectation of seeing them
Eve encountered her old high school teacher while shopping at the weekend market.
encounter + person while [activity]
During his hike in the mountains, Tariq encountered a group of birdwatchers from Japan.
The two former colleagues encountered each other at a busy train station in Taipei.
When Minh turned the corner, she encountered a street musician playing a guitar.
For Hassan, it was unusual to encounter anyone he knew in that part of the city.
- meet
more general; can be planned or unplanned
- run into
informal; suggests complete surprise
- come across
can also be used for finding things, not just people
- bump into
very informal; implies physical closeness or chance
文法句型
encounter + person
用法筆記
Common in narrative contexts to describe surprising or coincidental meetings. Normally used with a specific person or group as the object.
常見錯誤
2. to find yourself facing a difficult or unwelcome situation, often while working
to find yourself facing a difficult or unwelcome situation, often while working toward a goal
The research team encountered unexpected technical problems during the final stage of the experiment.
encounter + technical problems / difficulties
Sven encountered strong resistance from local residents when he proposed the new housing plan.
Students who arrive late may encounter difficulties catching up with the course material.
The hospital encountered a serious shortage of medical supplies after the typhoon.
Companies expanding overseas often encounter cultural differences that affect their business practices.
- face
slightly more active; suggests confronting the issue directly
- experience
broader; can be positive or negative
- meet with
slightly more formal; common in business contexts
- confront
stronger; implies direct and deliberate facing of a problem
文法句型
encounter + difficulty/problem/resistance
用法筆記
The object is almost always something negative or challenging — difficulty, resistance, opposition, problems, setbacks. Not used for positive experiences like joy or success.
常見錯誤
encounter — noun
1. an unexpected or unplanned meeting with someone, especially someone you know or
an unexpected or unplanned meeting with someone, especially someone you know or someone who has an effect on you
Paloma's encounter with an old friend at the airport made her miss her flight.
encounter with + person (possessive)
Ritu described her chance encounter with a famous writer at a small bookstore in London.
Cole and Tamar's first encounter was completely unplanned — they bumped into each other at a cafe.
A brief encounter with a stranger on the train led to a lifelong friendship.
- appointment
a planned meeting at a specific time and place
文法句型
encounter with + person
用法筆記
Often modified by adjectives like 'chance', 'brief', 'unexpected', 'casual' to emphasize the unplanned nature of the meeting.
2. a sexual meeting between two people, especially one that is casual or happens wi
a sexual meeting between two people, especially one that is casual or happens without a long-term romantic relationship
The novel describes a brief sexual encounter between two strangers in Paris.
brief / casual sexual encounter
Yan regretted her brief sexual encounter with a man she met at the company party.
sexual encounter — noun used with 'sexual' to specify the sense
The magazine article discussed how people view casual encounters differently across cultures.
Xiu wrote openly about her early romantic encounters in her award-winning memoir.
- one-night stand
informal; specifically a single sexual meeting without emotional involvement
- hookup
very informal; casual sexual meeting
文法句型
encounter with + person
sexual/casual encounter
用法筆記
A formal or euphemistic term. In everyday speech, phrases like 'one-night stand' or 'hookup' are more common. May also be used in clinical or literary contexts.
常見錯誤
3. a sports match or competition between two teams or players
a sports match or competition between two teams or players
Saturday's encounter between the two top teams is expected to draw a large crowd.
encounter between [teams]
The referee made several controversial decisions during the encounter.
This will be their third encounter this season, and both teams are determined to win.
The away team struggled throughout the encounter and failed to score a single goal.
文法句型
encounter between + teams
用法筆記
Common in British sports journalism and commentary. Used for a specific match between two named opponents, particularly in football, rugby, and cricket.
4. a short, sometimes aggressive confrontation between people on opposite sides of
a short, sometimes aggressive confrontation between people on opposite sides of a disagreement or fight
The soldiers reported a brief encounter with enemy forces near the border.
encounter with + enemy / opposing forces
A violent encounter between rival gangs broke out in the neighborhood last night.
The documentary includes footage of their first encounter with armed rebels.
Eli's grandfather rarely spoke about his encounters with enemy soldiers during the war.
- clash
emphasizes the violent and abrupt nature of the meeting
- confrontation
focuses on the face-to-face nature of the opposition
- skirmish
a small, short fight, often between small groups of soldiers
- truce
an agreement to stop fighting
- reconciliation
the restoration of friendly relations
文法句型
encounter with + enemy/opponent
用法筆記
Often implies a short, sharp confrontation rather than a prolonged battle. Used in military reports, news coverage of conflicts, and descriptions of physical fights.