- (v.t.) A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a bloody encounter.
- (adv.) To come against face to face; to meet; to confront, either by chance, suddenly or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition or with hostile intent; to engage in conflict with; to oppose; to struggle with; as, to encounter a friend in traveling; two armies encounter each other; to encounter obstacles or difficulties, to encounter strong evidence of a truth.
- (v.i.) To meet face to face; to have a meeting; to meet, especially as enemies; to engage in combat; to fight; as, three armies encountered at Waterloo.
- (v.t.) A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental meeting; an interview.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). Encounter. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/encounter/definitions/2003041 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "Encounter" http://smartdefine.org/encounter/definitions/2003041 (accessed September 22, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, Encounter, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/encounter/definitions/2003041>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "Encounter" 27 May 2011. Web. 22 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/encounter/definitions/2003041> |