- [countable] something that happens, especially something unusual or unpleasant
- His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident.
- The most recent incident occurred last January.
- She couldn't have been more than five years old when the incident happened.
- One particular incident sticks in my mind.
- incident with somebody/something The hot-headed tennis star became involved in an incident with the umpire.
Extra Examples- He came to regret the whole incident.
- She recalled a similar incident 14 months earlier.
- He was asked to leave the club following an incident at a training camp.
- She was asked whether she had ever experienced any incidents of discrimination.
- He described the incident as outrageous.
- She was never disciplined over the incident.
- The incident sparked a riot which lasted three days.
- The incident was extremely well handled.
- The story is based on an actual incident.
- They all laughed as he recounted the amusing incident.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- serious
- little
- …
- cause
- create
- provoke
- …
- happen
- occur
- take place
- …
- room
- incident with
- following an/the incident
- in an/the incident
- …
- [countable, uncountable] a serious or violent event, such as a crime, an accident or an attack
- a violent/serious incident
- There was a shooting incident near here last night.
- She reported the incident to the police.
- He said that the authorities would investigate the incident.
- in an incident A 36-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were stabbed in separate incidents.
- without incident The demonstration passed off without incident.
- incident with somebody/something It was an alleged incident with a cleaner in this hotel that led to his dismissal.
- incident of something There had been a number of incidents of violence against staff.
Extra Examples- After nearly falling twice, she managed to make it to the top of the cliff without further incident.
- His back still hurts from an incident with a vacuum cleaner.
- It is feared that the attack may not have been an isolated incident.
- No major security incidents happened at the Olympic Games that year.
- Saturday's incident illustrates the fragility of the peace in the country.
- She received a serious jaw injury in an off-the-ball incident.
- The group is believed to have been responsible for several terrorist incidents.
- another terrorist incident involving aircraft
- The patrol had covered 200 miles without incident.
- The pedestrian who had nearly been run over reported the incident to the police.
- The police said that two men had been arrested after the match in unrelated incidents.
- Three soldiers were wounded in the incident.
- The jury was satisfied that the incident had taken place.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- serious
- little
- …
- cause
- create
- provoke
- …
- happen
- occur
- take place
- …
- room
- incident with
- following an/the incident
- in an/the incident
- …
- [countable] a disagreement between two countries, often involving military forces
- a border/diplomatic incident
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2- An error in the translation nearly caused a diplomatic incident.
- Talks between the neighbouring countries were called off following a border incident.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- serious
- little
- …
- cause
- create
- provoke
- …
- happen
- occur
- take place
- …
- room
- incident with
- following an/the incident
- in an/the incident
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin incident- ‘falling upon, happening to’, from the verb incidere, from in- ‘upon’ + cadere ‘to fall’.
Check pronunciation:
incident