to come upon or meet with, esp. unexpectedly

to encounter a new situation.

to meet with or contend against (difficulties, opposition, etc.)

We encounter so many problems in our work.

to meet (a person, military force, etc.) in conflict

We will encounter the enemy at dawn.

to meet, esp. unexpectedly or in conflict

We were angry when we encountered, but we parted with smiles.

a meeting with a person or thing, esp. a casual, unexpected, or brief meeting

Our running into each other was merely a chance encounter.

a meeting of persons or groups that are in conflict or opposition; combat; battle

Another such encounter and we may lose the war.

Psychology . a meeting of two or more people, as the members of an encounter group or a number of married couples (marriage encounter), conducted to promote direct emotional confrontations among the participants, esp. as a form of therapy (encounter therapy).

noun

avoidance , evasion , retreat , surrender , yielding

verb

avoid , evade , retreat , run away , let go , surrender , yield

noun

appointment , brush , concurrence , confrontation , interview , rendezvous , action , battle , bout , clash , collision , combat , conflict , contention , contest , dispute , engagement , flap * , fray , hassle , quarrel , rumpus * , run-in * , scrap , set-to * , skirmish , velitation , violence , face-off , run-in

verb

alight upon , bear , bump into , chance upon , close , come across , come upon , confront , cross the path , descry , detect , espy , experience , face , fall in with , find , front , hit upon , meet , meet up with , rub eyeballs , run across , run into , run smack into , suffer , sustain , turn up , undergo , affront , battle , clash with , collide , combat , conflict , contend , cross swords * , do battle , engage , grapple , strive , struggle , accost , take on , action , address , affray , assail , attack , bout , brush , collision , contest , dispute , engagement , fight , oppose , rendezvous , skirmish