These words express the action of coming together with another or others. Meet is the most general word and has the widest range of application. It may mean simply to come upon: He met her there by chance. Or it may indicate a previous appointment: He promised to meet her at the restaurant at noon. In one specific sense, it may mean to go to or be at the place of a traveller’s arrival: They met her at the station, so she didn’t have to get a taxi. In some contexts, meet refers to a formal introduction or to the making of a new acquaintance.

• Have you met my mother?; They met a very interesting couple at the beach.

Or it may indicate an assembling, as for a conference.

• What time is the committee to meet ?

In a restricted, literal sense, meet may stress a face-to-face approach.

• He pulled out to pass and met another car head-on; While going to St. Ives, he met a man with seven wives.

Of the remaining words, encounter is the closest synonym for meet, but it strongly implies a casual or unexpected meeting .

• He encountered many interesting people on his travels and mentions a few memorable ones in his memoirs; They came sneaking round the corner and encountered a policeman.

Encounter may also mean to meet in conflict or face in battle.

• They encountered one another in the boxing ring; We encountered the enemy in various small border clashes.

The phrase get in touch with implies the establishing or renewing of communication. It is conversational in tone.

• When you are in London, you might get in touch with a friend of mine.

Contact used as a verb meaning to get in touch with is still regarded as informal, although it seems to be gaining more and more acceptance in the written language. Get in touch with and contact are both quite useful when the particular means of communication is not indicated.

• I haven’t been able to get in touch with him, though I’ve tried writing to him, phoning him and going to his office; We’ll contact you later; I will have to contact my solicitor.

See in one sense is close to encounter, referring to a chance meeting.

• I saw your husband in town the other day.

In a special sense, it refers to the granting of an appointment or interview, or to the reception of guests.

• The doctor will see you now; He asked if he might see her again; Madame is ill and is not seeing anyone today.