coincided; coinciding
Synonyms of coincide

intransitive verb

1
a
: to occupy the same place in space or time
The base of the triangle coincides with one side of the square.
The heroic age of bridge construction coincided with the expansion of the railroads …Mario Salvadori
b
: to occupy exactly corresponding or equivalent positions on a scale or in a series
100° Celsius coincides with 212° Fahrenheit.
2
: to correspond in nature, character, or function
"… our sentiments coincided in every particular …"Jane Austen
3
: to be in accord or agreement : concur
I coincided with their views on most subjects.
Choose the Right Synonym for coincide

agree, concur, coincide mean to come into or be in harmony regarding a matter of opinion.

agree implies complete accord usually attained by discussion and adjustment of differences.

on some points we all can agree

concur often implies approval of someone else's statement or decision.

if my wife concurs, it's a deal

coincide, used more often of opinions, judgments, wishes, or interests than of people, implies total agreement.

their wishes coincide exactly with my desire

Examples of coincide in a Sentence

The goals of the business partners coincide. the heaviest snowfall of the season coincided with the start of our weeklong ski vacation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her birthday also coincided with the 20th anniversary of her hit album B’Day. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026 The coast is dangerous this week because high tides — which peak in the evening — are coinciding with a southerly swell, Black said. Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 In addition to speech, our management of a localized fire for food, safety, and comfort is another uniquely human behavior, one that seems to have coincided with the development of complex spoken language. Mike McRae 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026 Especially if there’s a big sporting event — for instance, the first night of the convention coincides with the NFL season opener, a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Daniel Strauss, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coincide

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin coincidere "to be identical in substance, agree in position," from Latin co- co- + incidere "to fall or drop (into), come by chance, chance to happen" — more at incident entry 1

First Known Use

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of coincide was in 1719

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coincide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coincide. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

coincided; coinciding
1
: to occupy the same place in space or time
2
: to occupy the same positions on a scale
3
: to agree exactly
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