Explanation at your level:
When two things happen at the same time, we say they coincide. For example, if your lunch and your friend's lunch are at 12:00, they coincide. It is a simple way to say 'happen together.'
You can use coincide to talk about schedules. If you have a party on Saturday and your friend has a party on the same Saturday, your parties coincide. It helps explain that two events overlap.
In intermediate English, coincide is used for events or opinions. It is very useful when explaining why you cannot attend an event. You might say, 'My meeting coincides with your dinner, so I cannot come.' It is a formal but common way to explain a conflict.
At this level, you can use coincide to discuss abstract concepts. It is common to say that 'our interests coincide' to show that you and someone else have similar goals. It is a great alternative to saying 'we agree' or 'we have the same interests.'
Advanced speakers use coincide to describe complex alignments. You might talk about how 'political shifts coincide with economic changes.' It adds a layer of analytical depth to your writing, suggesting a correlation between two distinct phenomena without necessarily claiming one caused the other.
At the mastery level, coincide can be used to describe the convergence of historical, cultural, or philosophical ideas. It implies a sense of inevitability or synchronization. Using this word allows for nuanced discussions about how disparate elements of a society or narrative align, reflecting a high level of linguistic sophistication and precision.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Coincide means to happen together.
- It is usually followed by 'with'.
- It works for time, space, and ideas.
- The noun form is coincidence.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word coincide. At its heart, this verb is all about timing and alignment. When we say two things coincide, we mean they are happening together or occupying the same space.
Think of it like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly into a slot. Whether it is two events happening on the same day or two people having the exact same opinion on a topic, coincide captures that sense of perfect overlap. It is a very handy word to have in your vocabulary when you want to describe connections between events or thoughts!
The word coincide has a cool history rooted in Latin. It comes from the prefix co- (meaning 'together') and the Latin word incidere (meaning 'to fall upon'). So, literally, it means to 'fall together.'
It entered English in the 17th century. Originally, it was used mostly in scientific or mathematical contexts to describe lines or shapes that overlapped perfectly. Over time, the meaning expanded to include abstract things like opinions and schedules. It is fascinating how words that start as physical descriptions often grow to describe our complex human experiences!
You will hear coincide used in both formal and informal settings. It is very common in business to talk about meetings that coincide with travel plans. In casual conversation, you might say your vacation coincides with a friend's visit.
The most common preposition used with it is with. You rarely say something coincides alone; you usually say it coincides with something else. Keep that in mind, and you will sound like a pro!
While coincide is a precise verb, it is often used in phrases that act like idioms.
- Coincide with: To happen at the same time.
- Perfectly coincide: When timing is exact.
- Coincide by chance: When it happens without planning.
- Coincide in opinion: To agree completely.
- Coincide with the schedule: To match up with plans.
Pronounced ko-in-SIDE, the stress is on the final syllable. It is a regular verb, so the past tense is coincided.
Grammatically, it is an intransitive verb. This means it doesn't take a direct object. You don't 'coincide something'; rather, things 'coincide with' each other. It is a great word for adding precision to your sentences!
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'incident'.
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with a 'koh' sound.
Clear 'oh' sound in the first syllable.
Common Errors
- Misplacing the stress
- Pronouncing it as two syllables
- Adding an extra 's'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to speak
Easy to listen
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Intransitive Verbs
The event coincides.
Prepositional Phrases
Coincide with time.
Verb Tenses
Coincided yesterday.
Examples by Level
The two events coincide.
Two events happen together.
Simple present tense.
My birthday coincides with a holiday.
My birthday is on a holiday.
Verb + with.
Our lunch times coincide.
We eat at the same time.
Plural subject.
The meetings coincide.
Meetings are at the same time.
Intransitive verb.
Do our plans coincide?
Are our plans the same?
Question form.
The dates coincide.
The dates are the same.
Simple verb.
The music and the dance coincide.
They happen together.
Subject + and + subject.
The colors coincide.
The colors match.
Simple present.
The concert coincides with my exams.
Do your ideas coincide with mine?
The two paths coincide for a mile.
Our interests often coincide.
The festival coincides with the harvest.
His visit coincides with the weekend.
The lines coincide on the graph.
Their opinions coincide perfectly.
The release of the book coincides with the movie.
Our schedules rarely coincide these days.
The strike coincides with the national holiday.
Does your view coincide with the official report?
The two events happen to coincide.
Their goals coincide with our company mission.
The patterns seem to coincide.
The trip coincides with the rainy season.
The rise in prices coincides with the new tax.
Our perspectives coincide on this specific issue.
The celebration coincides with the lunar cycle.
The launch coincides with the anniversary.
Their interests coincide with the environmental goals.
The findings coincide with previous research.
The timing of the event coincides with the summit.
The two narratives coincide at the climax.
The historical period coincides with the industrial revolution.
His departure coincides with the onset of winter.
The philosophical debates coincide with social changes.
The data points coincide with the predicted model.
The artistic movement coincides with the political shift.
The cultural trends coincide with global trade.
The development coincides with the legislative reform.
The two theories coincide in their core assumptions.
The architectural design coincides with the natural landscape.
The thematic elements coincide to create a sense of unity.
The epoch coincides with a decline in trade.
The literary motifs coincide with the author's biography.
The legal interpretation coincides with established precedent.
The socio-economic indicators coincide with the crisis.
The artistic vision coincides with the technological era.
The rhythmic structures coincide in the final movement.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"by coincidence"
happening by chance
We met by coincidence.
neutral"a strange coincidence"
an unlikely event
What a strange coincidence!
neutral"pure coincidence"
totally accidental
It was pure coincidence.
neutral"coincidence of interests"
shared goals
There is a coincidence of interests.
formal"coincidence of timing"
good/bad luck with time
The coincidence of timing was perfect.
neutral"coincidence of opinion"
agreement
A coincidence of opinion exists.
formalEasily Confused
Both imply agreement.
Concur is for opinions, coincide is for events.
We concur (agree). The events coincide (happen together).
Adjective form.
Coincident is an adjective, coincide is a verb.
The events were coincident.
Similar meaning.
Overlap is more physical/casual.
Our schedules overlap.
Similarity in matching.
Correspond is about data or letters.
The numbers correspond.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + coincide + with + noun
The party coincides with my work.
Subject + happen + to + coincide
They happen to coincide.
It + coincides + with + noun
It coincides with the holiday.
Subject + and + subject + coincide
Our views coincide.
Subject + coincide + perfectly
Our interests coincide perfectly.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
It requires the preposition 'with'.
It is intransitive.
Ensure correct verb conjugation.
Coincide already implies 'together'.
Confusing the adjective with the verb.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine two clocks ticking at the same time.
When Native Speakers Use It
When scheduling appointments.
Cultural Insight
Often used to explain why someone is busy.
Grammar Shortcut
Always pair with 'with'.
Say It Right
Stress the last syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid saying 'coincide together'.
Did You Know?
It comes from the Latin for 'falling together'.
Study Smart
Learn it with 'coincidence'.
Context Tip
Use it to sound professional.
Verb Pattern
Intransitive: no direct object.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Co- (together) + Inside (the same space).
Visual Association
Two circles overlapping.
Word Web
Challenge
Use 'coincide' in a sentence today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To fall together
Cultural Context
None.
Commonly used in professional and social planning.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- coincide with the meeting
- coincide with the deadline
- schedules coincide
school
- coincide with exams
- coincide with holidays
- dates coincide
travel
- coincide with the season
- coincide with local events
- trip coincides
social
- coincide with my birthday
- coincide with plans
- interests coincide
Conversation Starters
"Do your work hours ever coincide with your social life?"
"Has your birthday ever coincided with a major holiday?"
"Do your opinions usually coincide with your friends' opinions?"
"What happens when your plans coincide with an emergency?"
"Can you think of a time when two events coincided by chance?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time two events in your life coincided.
Describe a situation where your opinion coincided with a stranger's.
How do you handle it when your plans coincide with someone else's?
Is it better when schedules coincide or when they are separate?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it can also be about space or ideas.
No, always 'coincide with'.
It is neutral and widely used.
Coincidence.
No, just that they happen together.
Yes, like two lines on a map.
Yes, for scheduling meetings.
koh-in-SIDE.
Test Yourself
Our birthdays ___ on the same day.
Coincide means happen together.
Which means to happen at the same time?
Coincide is the synonym for happen together.
Coincide is usually followed by 'with'.
Yes, 'coincide with' is the standard pattern.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
Correct structure: The date coincides with my trip.
Our interests ___ on this topic.
Interests coincide when they are the same.
Which is the correct noun form?
Coincidence is the noun.
Coincide can describe abstract ideas.
Yes, it is often used for opinions.
The rise in crime ___ with the economic downturn.
Coincides suggests a temporal correlation.
What does 'coincidental' mean?
Coincidental means accidental.
Score: /10
Summary
When things coincide, they are perfectly aligned in time or space.
- Coincide means to happen together.
- It is usually followed by 'with'.
- It works for time, space, and ideas.
- The noun form is coincidence.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine two clocks ticking at the same time.
When Native Speakers Use It
When scheduling appointments.
Cultural Insight
Often used to explain why someone is busy.
Grammar Shortcut
Always pair with 'with'.
Example
My day off happens to coincide with the local street festival.
Related Content
Learn it in Context
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
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lifetime
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weekend
A1The weekend is the period of time at the end of the week, typically including Saturday and Sunday. It is generally a time when people do not work or attend school and use the time for rest or leisure.
bygone
C1Refers to things, events, or eras that belong to an earlier time and no longer exist. It is frequently used to evoke nostalgia or to describe something that is archaic or historically distant.
yesterday
A1Yesterday refers to the day immediately before today. It is used to describe events, actions, or states that occurred in the very recent past, specifically one day ago.
prior
B2Existing or coming before in time, order, or importance. It is frequently used to describe a previous arrangement or knowledge that someone has before a specific point in time.
eventual
B2Describing something that happens at the end of a long process or period of time, often after several difficulties or intermediate steps. It characterizes the final result or outcome of a situation rather than the immediate one.
May
A1May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, falling between April and June. It has 31 days and is associated with the peak of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
hour
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anytime
C1Refers to an unspecified or indefinite point in time that is available or convenient for an action to occur. It denotes complete flexibility and the absence of a fixed schedule or temporal restriction.
prologation
C1Prolongation refers to the act of extending the duration or length of something, or the state of being extended beyond the usual or expected limit. It is frequently used in technical, legal, or formal contexts to describe an increase in time for a contract, a medical condition, or a physical dimension.
