course

noun \ ˈkȯrs \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Definition of course

1 : the act or action of moving in a path from point to point

the planets in their courses

2 : the path over which something moves or extends: such as

a : racecourse

b (1) : the direction of travel of a vehicle (such as a ship or airplane) usually measured as a clockwise angle from north; also : the projected path of travel

(2) : a point of the compass

c : watercourse

d : golf course

3 a : accustomed procedure or normal action

the law taking its course

b : a chosen manner of conducting oneself : way of acting

Our wisest course is to retreat.

c (1) : progression through a development or period or a series of acts or events

the course of history

(2) : life history, career

4 : an ordered process or succession: such as

a : a number of lectures or other matter dealing with a subject

took a course in zoology

; also : a series of such courses constituting a curriculum

a premed course

b : a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period

5 a : a part of a meal served at one time

the main course

b : layer; especially : a continuous level range of brick or masonry throughout a wall

c : the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast

— in due course

: after a normal passage of time : in the expected or allotted time

His discoveries led in due course to new forms of treatment.

— of course

1 : following the ordinary way or procedure

will be done as a matter of course

2 : as might be expected

Of course we will go.

See course defined for English-language learners

See course defined for kids

Examples of course in a Sentence

the course of a river
The pilot brought the plane back on course.
The ship was blown off course by a storm.
She's taking a chemistry course this semester.
Students earn the degree after a two-year course of study.
There is no cure, but the treatment will slow the course of the disease.

Recent Examples of course from the Web

Several dozen protesters demonstrated outside the resort but were kept at a distance from the candidate and course.

— jill colvin and paul kelbie, chicagotribune.com, "Trump lies low in Scotland ahead of high-stakes meeting with Putin," 14 July 2018
Part of Chequeado’s revenue comes from offering training courses in fact-checking to newsrooms across Latin America.

— The Economist, "Latin America’s new media are growing up," 14 July 2018
Their departure will no doubt usher in a new look for Vogue, which seems par the course for legacy magazines as of late.

— refinery29.com, "Is This The Beginning Of The End Of Anna Wintour’s Vogue?," 13 July 2018
Of course his children had private security; of course we’d been seen.

— angelica baker, Vogue, "Going One-on-One with Greatness at Michael Jordan’s Summer Camp," 13 July 2018
While the Verizon IndyCar Series has never raced at Laguna Seca, Indy cars last took to the 2.238-mile road course in 2007 for preseason testing in 2007.

— Indianapolis Star, "Laguna Seca on track to return to IndyCar calendar," 13 July 2018
Other amenities, such as a sledding hill and disc golf course, are expected to be added in the future.

— michelle mullins, Daily Southtown, "Homer Glen OKs $2.6 million for new playground, sensory garden; work to begin soon," 13 July 2018
With the setup of the 1.47-mile, 14-turn course, what kind of speeds can these cars get up to during the race?

— michelle r. martinelli, For The Win, "6 things to know about Formula E's championship race in New York," 13 July 2018
Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, Kentucky public high school students will be required to take a financial literacy course before graduation, according to House Bill 132.

— emma austin, The Courier-Journal, "Sex ed, terrorism and revenge porn: New Kentucky laws start Saturday," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'course.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of course

Middle English, from Anglo-French curs, course, from Latin cursus, from currere to run — more at car

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

course Synonyms

Synonyms

operation, procedure, proceeding, process;

Related Words

drill, routine;

fashion, form, manner, method, mode, style, system, technique, way;

approach, arrangement, blueprint, design, formula, game plan, ground plan, layout, plan, plot, program, project, recipe, scheme, strategy;

course

verb

Definition of course

coursed; coursing

transitive verb

1 : to follow close upon : pursue

2 a : to hunt or pursue (game) with hounds

b : to cause (dogs) to run (as after game)

3 : to run or move swiftly through or over : traverse

Jets coursed the area daily.

intransitive verb

: to run or pass rapidly along or as if along an indicated path

blood coursing through the veins

See course defined for English-language learners

Examples of course in a Sentence

the blood coursing through my veins
Tears were coursing down his cheeks.

Recent Examples of course from the Web

But in the matter of style, their contrasting approaches offer a window into the debate coursing through the Democratic Party as a whole: how best to take on the strangely formidable force that is Donald Trump.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump’s confusion about Bush’s slogan illustrates his narrow view of the presidency," 9 July 2018
But despite the energy coursing through the party’s progressive wing, there are reasons for Democrats to worry.

— philip elliott, Time, "How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pulled Off the Biggest Upset of 2018," 28 June 2018
Sumac and other middle-eastern spices coursed through adding big flavor to the small slice.

— anna caplan, star-telegram, "The pizza version of a churrascaria exists — so wear your stretchy pants," 11 July 2018
But eventually Arabian blood would course through the veins of the cavalries of the Far East, the Ottoman Empire, Europe and the New World.

— peter gwin, WSJ, "The Horses That Changed History," 19 June 2018
Authorities ordered new evacuations Friday, warning of activity at the Volcano of Fire and saying dangerous flows of volcanic material, water and sediment were coursing through four canyons.

— Washington Post, "Grim task as forensic experts ID Guatemala volcano victims," 8 June 2018
Authorities ordered new evacuations Friday, warning of activity at the Volcano of Fire and saying dangerous flows of volcanic material, water and sediment were coursing through four canyons.

— sonia perez d., chicagotribune.com, "Grim task as forensic experts ID Guatemala volcano victims; death toll hits 110," 8 June 2018
The pulse of that year’s song of the summer will course its way to you as quickly as the humidity assails those of us in the swampy dredges of New York.

— hannah giorgis, The Atlantic, "Cardi B’s ‘I Like It’ Is the Song of the Summer," 29 May 2018
Spotting birds in their summer homes Cottonwood trees house the birds and shade what little water there is coursing through the Agua Fria.

— joshua bowling, azcentral, "Program asks for public's help spotting, researching birds in regional counting project," 24 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of course

see ¹course

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

course Synonyms

Phrases

beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it;

COURSE Defined for English Language Learners

course

noun

Definition of course for English Language Learners

: the path or direction that something or someone moves along
: a path or route that runners, skiers, bikers, etc., move along especially in a race
: a series of classes about a particular subject in a school

course

verb

Definition of course for English Language Learners

: to move or flow quickly

COURSE Defined for Kids

course

noun \ ˈkȯrs \

Definition of course for Students

1 : motion from one point to another : progress in space or time

The earth makes its course around the sun in 365 days.

During the course of a year he meets dozens of people.

2 : the path over which something moves

The ship was blown off course.

3 : a natural channel for water

A trail follows the river's course.

4 : a way of doing something

Choose a course of action.

5 : the ordinary way something happens over time

the course of business

6 : a series of acts or proceedings arranged in regular order

a course of therapies

7 : a series of classes in a subject

a geography course

8 : a part of a meal served separately

We ate a three course dinner.

— of course

: as might be expected

You know, of course, that I like you.

Word Root of course

The Latin word currere, meaning “to run,” and its form cursus give us the roots curr and curs. Words from the Latin currere have something to do with running. A current is the direction in which a river runs or flows. When two people concur, their ideas or opinions run together in agreement. A course is the path over which something moves or runs.