to occur

Examples

• All

• Would never occur to me to want to cause somebody harm.

  Wayne Goss

• It never occurred to me that you would come see me off.

  L.U.N.A. (2021)

• How did you how did this idea occur to you, John?

• Ever occur to you you may lose here?

  Unfavorable Odds (2022)

• Did it occur to you l needed to know?

  The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

• But does it occur to you that if they are dead, someone else has the drugs?

  The Killer (2024)

• At some point it occurred to me I was alone.

• Did it ever occur to you that these women might also be grateful?

  1242: Gateway to the West (2025)

• And it never occurred to me how badly he was.

• I was surprised when the solution to the problem suddenly occurred to me.

Synonyms

C

to come

vsto occur

∞ 1.5

Enter your mind without effort

is the same unexpected mental entry but stated more formally

C

to come up

vsto occur

896 2.6

To be mentioned in a discussion

refers specifically to a thought suddenly coming into someone's mind

S

to strike

vsto occur

821 3.9

To suddenly cause a strong feeling or idea

focuses more narrowly on an idea arriving in the mind unexpectedly

E

to emerge

vsto occur

604 4.0

To become known or start to exist, for example as an idea

denotes a sudden mental appearance rather than a general becoming known

C

to come to

vsto occur

546 3.1

Suddenly have an idea or memory

is the same sudden mental arrival described more generally for ideas

S

to spring

vsto occur

145 2.5

To appear or happen suddenly

is limited to sudden mental appearances of ideas or thoughts

C

to come to mind

vsto occur

120 3.0

To suddenly think of something or remember it

is the sudden, unexpected coming into mind described more neutrally

S

to spring up

vsto occur

43 3.3

To appear quickly in a place, often as new shops or cafes

is about sudden mental arrival, not rapid development of things

P

to pop into

vsto occur

• Informal

13 3.9

A thought or memory comes into your mind suddenly and briefly

is like that but can imply a less brief or more notable arrival

S

to spring to mind

vsto occur

8 3.4

To come quickly into your head without trying

is similar but used for sudden ideas rather than general quick recall

B

to burst upon

vsto occur

1 6.1

Suddenly appear in a place or in someone's mind and surprise people

describes unexpected mental arrival but with less emphasis on impact

D

to dawn on someone

vsto occur

4.4

An idea becomes clear to someone, often suddenly

is about a sudden idea arriving rather than a clarity or insight

How Sudden

to strike

821 3.9

to occur

339 2.4

to pop into

• Informal

13 3.9

Surface Forms

Etymology