concurrent

adjective

con·​cur·​rent kən-ˈkər-ənt 

-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.

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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.

Synonyms

• synchronous
• synchronic
• simultaneous
• coincident
• coincidental

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

Similarly, parents whose children are already in treatment could receive concurrent support. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025

The event peaked with a live concurrent audience of 614,000. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 18 Aug. 2025

Since the Global 200 began in September 2020, four elite albums — by two superstars — other than the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack have generated as many as four concurrent top five hits. —Gary Trust, Billboard, 18 Aug. 2025

The pop star’s appearance on the New Heights podcast this week attracted 1.3 concurrent million viewers in its first hour. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing concurrent

• concurrent resolution

Rhymes for concurrent

• decurrent
• noncurrent
• recurrent
• countercurrent
• intercurrent
• overcurrent
• photocurrent
• undercurrent
• current

Kids Definition

concurrent

adjective

con·​cur·​rent kən-ˈkər-ənt 

-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 

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 concurrent

—McCulloch 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