Coincide

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1. Definition + Rich Everyday Explanation

Coincide (verb) = to happen at the same time or place as something else; or to match, agree, or correspond closely with something.

“Coincide” is a useful word for describing when two or more things occur together or align perfectly. It captures that moment when separate events, dates, ideas, or circumstances meet at the same point — whether by chance, design, or natural connection.

The time-based meaning is the most common. Events coincide when they happen simultaneously: your holiday might coincide with a festival, a meeting might coincide with another appointment, or a product launch might coincide with a competitor’s announcement. Sometimes this overlap is accidental (bad luck with scheduling), sometimes it’s deliberate (timed to maximise impact), and sometimes it’s simply natural (spring coincides with certain flowers blooming).

The agreement meaning is equally important. When opinions, views, or interests coincide, they match or align. If your taste in music coincides with a friend’s, you like the same things. If research findings coincide with earlier studies, they confirm and support each other. This usage suggests harmony and correspondence rather than conflict.

“Coincide” has a neutral, slightly formal tone. It’s common in news, academic writing, and professional contexts, but also works in everyday conversation when you want to sound precise about timing or agreement.

Examples from the street:

• “Unfortunately, the concert coincides with my sister’s wedding, so I can’t go” → the two events happen at the same time, forcing a choice
• “Our views on education coincide almost exactly” → we agree; our opinions match closely
• “The release was timed to coincide with the anniversary” → they deliberately scheduled it to happen at the same time as the special date

2. Most Common Patterns

• coincide with + noun → happen at the same time as something; or match/agree with something
• timed to coincide with → deliberately scheduled to occur simultaneously
• happen to coincide → occur together by chance, not design
• views/opinions/interests coincide → beliefs or preferences match
• dates/events coincide → things fall on the same time
• coincide exactly/closely/largely → match to varying degrees

3. Idioms

Note: There are no common idioms directly containing “coincide” — these are related expressions:

• be on the same page → share the same understanding or opinion; think alike

  Example: “After a long discussion, we’re finally on the same page about the project direction.”

• cross paths → meet or encounter someone, often by chance; be in the same place at the same time

  Example: “We crossed paths at the airport — what a small world!”

4. Example Sentences

1. My birthday coincides with Christmas Eve, so it often gets overlooked

   → My birthday falls on the same date as the holiday, meaning people forget about it.

2. The exhibition was timed to coincide with the artist’s 100th birthday

   → Organisers deliberately scheduled the show to happen during the centenary celebration.

3. Our interests coincide on this issue — we both want the same outcome

   → We share the same goals; our priorities align perfectly here.

4. Unfortunately, the two conferences coincide, so I can only attend one

   → Both events happen at the same time, forcing me to choose between them.

5. The findings of the new study coincide closely with previous research

   → The results match and confirm what earlier investigations discovered.

6. It just happened to coincide — we didn’t plan to arrive at the same time

   → It was pure chance that we got there simultaneously; there was no coordination.

7. The company’s announcement coincided with a major drop in share prices

   → The statement occurred at the same time as the stock value fell significantly.

8. Her version of events doesn’t coincide with what the witnesses said

   → Her account doesn’t match or agree with other people’s descriptions.

9. The peak tourist season coincides with the hottest months of the year

   → The busiest time for visitors occurs during the same period as the highest temperatures.

10. Our schedules rarely coincide, which makes meeting up difficult

    → We’re seldom free at the same times, so arranging to see each other is hard.

5. Personal Examples

1. When students’ interests coincide with lesson topics, engagement increases dramatically

   → Learners pay much more attention when class content matches what they personally care about.

2. I try to make revision sessions coincide with when students feel most alert — usually mid-morning

   → I schedule review classes to happen during the time when learners are naturally most focused.

6. Register: Neutral / Slightly Formal

✔ Native usage tips

• “Coincide with” is the essential pattern — the word almost always needs “with” to connect to what it matches or overlaps
• “Timed to coincide with” is extremely common in news and press releases when describing deliberate scheduling
• Don’t confuse “coincide” with “coincidence” — coincide is the verb (things coincide); coincidence is the noun (it was a coincidence)
• The word works for both accidental and intentional overlap — context makes clear which is meant
• Pronunciation: co-in-SIDE (stress on the final syllable)

✔ Similar expressions / words

• Overlap → similar for time/events, but can also mean partial sharing; coincide suggests more exact alignment
• Clash → specifically when two events coincide problematically, creating conflict in scheduling
• Correspond → closer to the “agreement” meaning; more formal and often used for written communication or matching data