Coincide and meet both bring things to a point, with a difference in intent and completeness. Coincide is for two independent things to fall on the same point or time, often by chance, and often to overlap exactly. Meet is to come together at a point, often on purpose. Coincide is an exact, often chance overlap; meet is a coming-together.
Both bring things to a point, but coincide is often by chance and exact, while meet is a plain coming-together. Coincide, from co- 'together' and incidere 'to fall upon', means two things fall on the same spot or moment, often independently or by chance, and often overlapping exactly. Meet, an old everyday word, means to come together at a point — two roads, two people — often intended. Two dates coincide by chance; two friends meet by arrangement. One is an exact, often accidental overlap; the other a coming-together.
coincide
To coincide is to occupy the same point — in time, space, or opinion — while belonging to different paths. From the Latin co-incidere, 'to fall upon together'. Festivals coincide with full moons; an interview coincides with a strike; two rivals' interests briefly coincide. The word insists on independence: neither schedule bent for the other, which is exactly what makes coincidence feel like fate — two orbits, each obeying only itself, agreeing on a single moment.
meet
To meet is for separate things to come together at one place or moment — two roads meet, old friends meet, a river meets the sea. From the Old English mētan, it has always carried this coming-together, but its real academic value is abstract: to meet a deadline, a target, or a demand is to be enough for it, to rise to what is asked. Where independent paths converge on the same point, they meet — and from that point they may go on together.
| coincide | meet | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | fall on the same point or time | come together at a point |
| How | often by chance; exact overlap | often on purpose; contact |
| Also means | opinions agree | satisfy a requirement |
| Often with | dates, events, lines, opinions | people, roads, a deadline, a need |
| Noun | coincidence | a meeting |
| Example | The dates coincide. | Let's meet at noon. |
Ask whether two things fall on a point by chance or come together on purpose. Coincide has two things land on exactly the same point or moment, often independently — two rings crossing at their one shared spot. Meet has things come together at a point, often intended — two travellers reaching a junction. If two things share a point, often by chance, they coincide; if they come together, they meet.
coincide
- iHer visit happened to coincide with the festival.
- iiThe two lines coincide at exactly one point.
- iiiOur views on the matter largely coincide.
meet
- iLet's meet at the station at noon.
- iiThe two rivers meet just below the town.
- iiiThe design meets all the safety requirements.
Coincide stresses an exact overlap in space or time, often by chance or between independent things, and can mean agreement; meet is a plainer coming-together, often intended, and can also mean to satisfy a requirement (meet a deadline). Two events coincide by accident; two people meet by design.