concurrent

adjective

con·​cur·​rent kən-ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce concurrent (audio)
-ˈkə-rənt,
kän-
1
: operating or occurring at the same time
2
a
: running parallel
b
: convergent
specifically : meeting or intersecting in a point
3
: acting in conjunction
4
: exercised over the same matter or area by two different authorities
concurrent jurisdiction
concurrent noun
concurrently adverb

Did you know?

Concurrent and Consecutive

Consecutive has a good deal in common with the complementary word concurrent. Besides the fact that both begin with the prefix con- (meaning “with, together”), each word deals with the time-order in which several things happen. Concurrent describes things that are occurring, or people who are doing something, at the same time, such as “concurrent users” of a computer program. Consecutive refers to things that are arranged or happen in a sequential order. A criminal who serves a consecutive sentence does time for one conviction after another. If that person gets a concurrent sentence, he or she undergoes all punishments at the same time.

Did you know?

What Does concurrent Really Mean?

Things that are concurrent usually not only happen at the same time but also are similar to each other. So, for example, multitasking computers are capable of performing concurrent tasks. When we take more than one medication at a time, we run the risks involved with concurrent drug use. And at any multiplex theater several movies are running concurrently.

Examples of concurrent in a Sentence

… the last two Mysore Wars in the 1790s, like the concurrent European wars against Revolutionary France, demonstrated Britain's capacity to reassert and reconfigure itself in the wake of crushing global defeats. Linda Colley, Captives, 2002
Concurrent with the party conventions, an assortment of activists, professional pols and show-biz celebrities with populist pretensions … will gather for four days of speechifying, seminar giving and satirical merrymaking … Andrew Ferguson, Time, 31 July 2000
Added to other evidence, this led to Cooke's conviction and a sentence of two concurrent twenty-year terms. David Fisher, Hard Evidence, 1995
the concurrent use of two medications He's currently serving two concurrent life sentences for murder.
Recent Examples on the Web Some of the crew members working at Boring’s concurrent Westgate jobsite were pulled over to help finish the project, former employees say. Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 That concurrent effort, led by the city’s Office of Planning, lays out detailed proposals to rethink public spaces. Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 Each show had its own twist on The Walking Dead universe, with some serving as prequels, others concurrent and some in the future relative to the original series' timeline. Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 In a concurrent opinion, one of the judges raised potential ethical lapses by Winker in the case. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024 The influence of the latter field is not immediately evident in the streamlined white objects on exhibit in Buster’s concurrent shows at the Kreeger Museum and Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024 The previous two years saw record figures – last year’s inward spend came to £6.27 billion – thanks to the U.K.’s robust COVID response as well as a concurrent production bottle-neck. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 1 Feb. 2024 At Paris Deco Off a week later, high-end showrooms hosted retailers and designers to show off their newest lines, concurrent with Maison & Objet, a major home-design exposition. Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 The traveling exhibition at Mingei opens January 27 and runs through August 4, and will be held in conjunction with a concurrent exhibition at CECUT-Centro Cultural Tijuana (opening February 6). Seth Combs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'concurrent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English concurant, concurrent, borrowed from Latin concurrent-, concurrens, present participle of concurrere "to assemble in haste, resort to in large numbers, collide, exist simultaneously, be in agreement" — more at concur

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near concurrent

Cite this Entry

“Concurrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concurrent. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

concurrent

adjective
con·​cur·​rent kən-ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce concurrent (audio)
-ˈkə-rənt,
kän-
1
: operating or occurring at the same time
concurrent expeditions to the Antarctic region
2
: coming together : meeting in a point
concurrent lines
3
: acting together
concurrently adverb

Legal Definition

concurrent

adjective
con·​cur·​rent kən-ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce concurrent (audio)
1
: occurring, arising, or operating at the same time often in relationship, conjunction, association, or cooperation
the power of taxation in the general and state governments is acknowledged to be concurrentMcCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819)
a concurrent tortious act
see also concurrent cause at cause, concurrent sentence at sentence
2
: insuring the same property to the same extent under identical terms
concurrent fire policies
3
: exercised over the same matter or area by two different authorities see also concurrent jurisdiction at jurisdiction, concurrent power at power sense 2a
concurrently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on concurrent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!