ocorrer

Senses

1. 1.

   to occur, to happen

   to take place or come to pass

2. 2.

   to come to mind

   to enter one's thoughts or awareness (usually with 'me/lhe/etc.')

Examples

• "O acidente ocorreu na madrugada de domingo."

  The accident occurred early Sunday morning.

• "Não me ocorreu perguntar o nome dele."

  It didn't occur to me to ask his name.

• "Mudanças significativas ocorreram nos últimos anos."

  Significant changes have occurred in recent years.

Usage

Formal register verb, common in news reports and written Portuguese. Often interchangeable with "acontecer" (to happen), though "ocorrer" is more formal. When meaning "to come to mind," it requires an indirect object pronoun (me ocorreu, lhe ocorreu, etc.).