cursor

noun

cur·​sor ˈkər-sər How to pronounce cursor (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Faster completion of the task In a test with two tasks — moving a cursor to eight targets and using a robotic arm to move four blocks — all participants finished much faster with AI assistance. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025 While companies like Neuralink, Synchron, and Precision Neuroscience have drawn attention for enabling people with paralysis to move cursors or type by thought, those systems are primarily focused on motor control. Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Computer Use is an experimental feature that allows Claude to take screenshots and control a user's mouse cursor to perform tasks, but the new Chrome extension provides more direct browser integration. Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025 Some office workers recommend purchasing a mouse-jiggling device that keeps the cursor moving so you’re not dinged for idle time. Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cursor

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cursor was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cursor. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

cursor

noun
cur·​sor ˈkər-sər How to pronounce cursor (audio)
: a mark (as a bright blinking spot) on a computer display screen that shows the place where the user is working

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