current

1 of 2

adjective

cur·​rent ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce current (audio)
ˈkə-rənt
Synonyms of currentnext
1
a(1)
: occurring in or existing at the present time
the current crisis
current supplies
current needs
(2)
: presently elapsing
the current year
(3)
: most recent
the magazine's current issue
the current survey
b
archaic : running, flowing
2
: generally accepted, used, practiced, or prevalent at the moment
current fashions
current ideas about education
3
: used as a medium of exchange
currentness noun

current

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: the part of a fluid body (such as air or water) moving continuously in a certain direction
b
: the swiftest part of a stream
c
: a tidal or nontidal movement of lake or ocean water
d
: flow marked by force or strength
2
a
: a tendency or course of events that is usually the result of an interplay of forces
currents of public opinion
b
: a prevailing mood : strain
3
: a flow of electric charge
also : the rate of such flow

Synonyms

Adjective

Noun

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for current

tendency, trend, drift, tenor, current mean movement in a particular direction.

tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces

the drift of the population away from large cities

or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

got the drift of her argument

tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

Examples of current in a Sentence

Adjective The dictionary's current edition has 10,000 new words. Who is your current employer? We need to keep current with the latest information. Noun Strong currents pulled the swimmer out to sea. Air currents carried the balloon for miles. The circuit supplies current to the saw.
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.
Adjective
Well Development Inc, with a pro rata stock distribution to current shareholders. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 20 Nov. 2024 The seat was open after current U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, ran instead for a U.S. Senate seat. —Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
In June, nearly 12,000 of the vehicles were recalled because surging electrical current could kill the front windshield wiper motor’s controller, another hardware problem requiring on-site repair. —Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024 Missing an island or point of interest means waiting a full minute or longer for Shipshape to loop around the currents and bring it back into view again. —Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for current 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latininization of Middle English corrant, curraunt, borrowed from Anglo-French curant, corant, present participle of coure, courir "to run, flow," going back to Latin currere "to run, roll, move swiftly, flow," going back to Indo-European *kr̥s-e- "run," whence also Greek epíkouros "helping, helper" (from *epíkorsos "running toward," with o-grade ablaut), Old Irish carr "cart, wagon," Welsh car "vehicle" (from Celtic *kr̥s-o-), and perhaps Germanic *hursa- horse entry 1

Note: The Indo-European base has generally been taken as a primary verb, though Latin is the only language in which it is so attested.

Noun

Latinization of Middle English curraunt, borrowed from Middle French courant, going back to Old French, noun derivative from corant, curant, present participle of coure, courir "to run, flow" — more at current entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of current was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing current

Dictionary Entries Near current

currency unit

current

current account

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Current.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/current. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

current

1 of 2 adjective
cur·​rent ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce current (audio)
ˈkə-rənt
1
a
: now passing
the current month
b
: occurring in or belonging to the present time
current events
2
: generally accepted, used, or practiced
current customs
currently adverb
currentness noun

current

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the part of a fluid body moving continuously in a certain direction
b
: the swiftest part of a stream
2
: general course or movement : trend
3
: a stream of electric charge
also : the rate of such movement
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English curraunt, coraunt "moving, flowing, running," from early French corant, curant "running," derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to corridor, courier, course, excursion, incur, occur

Medical Definition

current

noun
cur·​rent ˈkər-ənt, ˈkə-rənt How to pronounce current (audio)
1
: the part of a fluid body (as air or water) moving continuously in a certain direction
2
: a flow of electric charge
also : the rate of such flow

More from Merriam-Webster on current

Nglish: Translation of current for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of current for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about current

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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