encounters
Unplanned face-to-face moments
Encounters are meetings or experiences, often unexpected or notable.
You might have a chance encounter with an old friend, or a close encounter with danger.
The word suggests something worth remarking on—routine interactions rarely qualify.
As a verb, to encounter is to meet or come upon: We encountered resistance at every turn.
An encounter group is a form of therapy emphasizing direct emotional exchange.
Gathering for discussion
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
- attractionPull toward something
sparks · eye contact · first date · rendezvous · tryst · love at first sight · serendipity · connection
Not anticipated beforehand
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
- randomOccurring without pattern
- accidentalOccurring by chance
surprise · fate · destiny · fluke · twist · fortuitous · happenstance · lucky
Gathering for discussion
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- interviewFormal questioning session
introduction · handshake · business card · pitch · presentation · collaboration · partnership · client
Direct hostile encounter
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
showdown · face-off · hostility · tension · dispute · battle · combat · resistance
Wildlife observation journey
- sightingInstance of perceiving something
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- birdwatchingObserving wild avians recreationally
- observationAttentive watching or remark
spotting · whale watching · game drive · photography · ranger · naturalist · ecotourism · conservation
Unidentified aerial craft
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
- first contactHumanity's alien introduction
- RoswellNew Mexico city, UFO-famous
Area 51 · sighting · spacecraft · otherworldly · E.T. · unidentified · visitation · beam
Ability to see
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- transcendenceSurpassing usual limits
mystical · divine · angelic · near-death · meditation · pilgrimage · shrine · sacred
meeting
Gathering for discussion
- flirtationPlayful romantic attention
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
attraction · sparks · eye contact · first date · rendezvous · tryst · love at first sight · serendipity · connection · intimacy
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
- randomOccurring without pattern
accidental · surprise · fate · destiny · fluke · twist · fortuitous · happenstance · lucky · unplanned
meeting
Gathering for discussion
- networkingBuilding professional relationships
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
interview · introduction · handshake · business card · pitch · presentation · collaboration · partnership · client · mentor
confrontation
Direct hostile encounter
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
altercation · showdown · face-off · hostility · tension · dispute · battle · combat · resistance · opposition
safari
Wildlife observation journey
- sightingInstance of perceiving something
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- birdwatchingObserving wild avians recreationally
observation · spotting · whale watching · game drive · photography · ranger · naturalist · ecotourism · conservation · habitat
UFO
Unidentified aerial craft
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
- abductionUnlawful seizure of person
- first contactHumanity's alien introduction
Roswell · Area 51 · sighting · spacecraft · otherworldly · E.T. · unidentified · visitation · beam · probe
vision
Ability to see
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- epiphanySudden profound insight
transcendence · mystical · divine · angelic · near-death · meditation · pilgrimage · shrine · sacred · enlightenment
- UFO LoreUFOs, flying saucers, alien abduction, alien abductions, Roswell
- worldbuildinglore, setting, realms, kingdoms, races
- tabletop RPGsD&D, sourcebook, dungeon master, game master, DM
- African explorationDavid Livingstone, Henry Stanley, expeditions, explorers, Richard Burton
- promiscuitypromiscuity, sleeping around, casual sex, hookups, one-night stands
- travel writingtravelogue, travelogues, travel memoir, travel memoirs, travel diaries
- close encountersBrief proximity with something
- chance encounterUnintended crossing of paths
- random encounterUnplanned interaction with another
- police encounter
- sexual encounter
- alien encountersContact with otherworldly visitors
encounter, encountered, encountering, unencountered, reencounter