cursor

noun

cur·​sor ˈkər-sər 

-ˌsȯr

: a movable item used to mark a position: such as

a

: a transparent slide with a line attached to a slide rule

b

: a visual cue (such as a flashing vertical line) on a video display that indicates position (as for data entry)

Examples of cursor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most tangible example is the Magic Pointer, a re-imagining of the cursor. —Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Hold a key, speak naturally, release, and the text appears wherever the cursor is placed. —Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 21 May 2026

The Indianapolis Grand Prix was the pre-cursor for the Indianapolis 500. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026

The last two highlight lines alter the way Vim highlights matching parentheses by changing the highlight method to an underline instead of a big full-height cursor-emulating block. —Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin cursor "runner, courier," from currere "to run" + -tor, agent suffix — more at current entry 1

Note: For cursor as agent noun of currere in place of expected *co(r)stor see note at course entry 1. As with other Latin deverbal derivatives, the zero grade ablaut of the past participle has been generalized with all suffixes ending in -t-.

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cursor

• bursar
• mercer
• purser
• precursor

Kids Definition

cursor

noun

cur·​sor ˈkər-sər 

: a mark (as a bright blinking spot) on a computer display screen that shows the place where the user is working