encounter each other

USAGE SUMMARY

"encounter each other" is a valid phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe two people who meet unexpectedly. For example, "The two siblings had not seen each other in years, so they were surprised to encounter each other in the grocery store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But, in fact, the president and the Irish won't encounter each other at all.

The New York Times

During the drama, we hear the characters' inner thoughts as they encounter each other.

The Guardian - Tech

Each time, they encounter each other in an abandoned farmhouse on Ray's property.

The New York Times

All the different groups are thus equally likely to encounter each other.

The Economist

It may be that the image and the name of the object encounter each other".

The New York Times

Rich and poor seldom encounter each other in the United States.

The New York Times

"In our country and the west, human beings are shifting in the way they encounter each other via these devices.

The Guardian

Not only do museumgoers encounter the art — contemplating, gawking, snapping selfies — the art works encounter each other.

The New Yorker

But the nature of urbanity is that people packed in together do encounter each other and discover history and traditions.

The Guardian

Set in the Lake District, Ransome's 1930 tale centres on two sailing-mad groups of children who encounter each other one summer during the school holidays.

The Guardian - Film

It is to show what happens when American whites and blacks encounter each other, not in the abstract but person to person, and make some sort of connection.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "encounter each other" to describe chance meetings or situations where individuals or groups come into contact, especially in narratives or descriptive writing.

Common error

Ensure the context makes it clear that the action is reciprocal. Avoid phrases like "they encounter with each other"; the "each other" already implies a mutual action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encounter each other" functions as a reciprocal verb phrase, indicating a mutual action between two or more entities. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe meetings, interactions, and even conflicts between people, groups, or even abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encounter each other" is a versatile reciprocal verb phrase used to describe meetings or interactions between two or more entities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. While "meet each other" is a more general alternative, "encounter each other" often implies an unexpected or circumstantial meeting. It's important to avoid redundancy by not adding prepositions like "with". Usage spans across news, science, and general contexts, making it a valuable addition to your vocabulary for describing interactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meet each other

This is a more direct and common way to express the same idea of two or more entities coming into contact.

come across each other

Emphasizes the unexpected or coincidental nature of the meeting.

run into each other

Suggests a casual or unplanned meeting.

bump into each other

Implies a sudden and often surprising meeting.

cross paths

A more metaphorical way of saying that two people's lives intersect.

interact with each other

Focuses on the interaction or communication that occurs when they meet.

find each other

Suggests a deliberate or fortunate meeting, implying a search or longing.

see each other

A general term for visual contact or meeting.

get together

Implies a planned or social meeting.

coincide

Highlights the concurrence of events or paths, rather than a direct meeting of individuals.

FAQs

How can I use "encounter each other" in a sentence?

You can use "encounter each other" to describe two or more people meeting, often unexpectedly. For example, "The two friends were surprised to "encounter each other" at the conference."

What is a more formal alternative to "encounter each other"?

A more formal alternative would be "meet", or "interact". Depending on the context, you could also use "convene" or "assemble".

How does "encounter each other" differ from "meet each other"?

"Meet each other" is a more general term, while "encounter each other" often implies a chance or unexpected meeting. For example, you might plan to "meet each other" for coffee, but you "encounter each other" unexpectedly at the grocery store.

Is it redundant to say "encounter with each other"?

Yes, saying "encounter with each other" is redundant. The verb "encounter" already implies a meeting or interaction between two or more parties, so the "with" is unnecessary.