current

1 of 2

adjective

cur·​rent ˈkər-ənt 

ˈkə-rənt

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

• conventional
• customary
• going
• popular
• prevailing
• prevalent
• standard
• stock
• usual

Noun

• direction
• drift
• leaning
• run
• tendency
• tide
• trend
• wind

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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The 75-year-old has become prominent in Catholic media over the past few years because of his consistent criticisms of decisions made under the current pope. —Greg Wehner, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2023

This story is part of a series on the current progression in Regenerative Medicine. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

My current job is fine and pays well for less than 40 hours a week but is not super-challenging. —Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2023

The current tree, a Norway spruce, came from West Virginia. —Adam Carlson, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2023

Abigail’s parents were killed at the Kfar Aza kibbutz during the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the current Israel-Hamas war. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2023

Users can watch scores of first-person reports from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, or learn about the history behind the current fighting. —Jacob Sweet, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2023

The trio got their first onstage experience performing Python humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where the current Broadway production originated in a quickie, 10-day run. —Gordon Cox, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023

Without news and current affairs commentary, private radio loses out on listeners and advertisers. —Adil Rashid, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2023

Noun

In 2022, biological oceanographer Christina Hernández, then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, confirmed Richardson’s findings after painstakingly analyzing the ear bones of tuna larvae collected in ocean currents flowing out of the Slope Sea. —Karen Pinchin, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023

The natural currents took the boat six months later to the coast of the Azores, where it was spotted by tourists on a cruise ship, prompting the Canadian Coast Guard to contact John regarding the whereabouts of his boat. —David Nour, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

In July 2019, the company paid $23,000 to head off the foreclosure of Arslanian’s Englewood Cliffs home and bring the mortgage current, according to federal charges. —Marina Dias, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023

McDonnell possibly went for a swim and drowned after getting caught in the current, according to the sources. —Caroline Brew, Variety, 25 Nov. 2023

The fuel cell can measure the alcoholic content in your breath by forming a chemical reaction that oxidizes the content in your breath and produces an electrical current. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Nov. 2023

The idea is for fish to mistake the whooshing current created by the pumps for the river’s flow and get lured into the trap. —Tony Schick, ProPublica, 31 Oct. 2023

Instead of the ever-popular grill look, this SUV has a shield with the Volvo logo embossed on it where air currents and sensors are held. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 16 Nov. 2023

The difference in density between cool air and neighboring warmer air can generate an air current that prompts spinning. —Carolyn Wilke, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2023

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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

Phrases Containing current

• current account
• eddy current
• unidirectional current
• alternating current
• rip current
• direct current
• current events
• current assets
• current affairs

• current account
• eddy current
• unidirectional current
• alternating current
• rip current
• direct current
• current events
• current assets
• current affairs

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Kids Definition

current

1 of 2 adjective

cur·​rent ˈkər-ənt 

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 

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