1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the immediate past : contemporary
the modern American family
b
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a period extending from a relevant remote past to the present time
modern history
2
: involving recent techniques, methods, or ideas : up-to-date
modern methods of communication
3
capitalized
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the present or most recent period of development of a language
Modern English
Synonyms
Examples of modern in a Sentence
Adjective
Water pollution is a growing problem in the modern world.
He's known as the father of modern medicine.
The English that was spoken by William Shakespeare is very different from the modern English spoken today.
She is learning Modern Greek.
They live in one of the most modern cities in the world.
modern methods of communication including e-mail and the Internet
She cut her long hair for a modern look.
He made his old-fashioned apartment look more modern by changing the color of the walls and buying new furniture.
Their latest movie is a modern version of a classic children's story.
She has modern ideas about dating and marriage.
Noun
the leaders of the American suffragists were originally regarded by many people as uppity moderns who should have stayed in their place
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Recent Examples on the Web
Oliver Franklin-Wallis, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
Few figures in modern American history remained so relevant for so long as Mr. Kissinger.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
As industry leaders continue to shape the way brands navigate this landscape, fashion and lifestyle companies are better equipped than ever to ensure their message resonates with the modern digital consumer.
—Alison Bringé, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
After a keynote speech from Princess Eugenie and de Boinville, guests were treated to a performance from Dreams, a modern slavery survivors’ choir that was formed during music therapy sessions provided by the Salvation Army.
—Mario Abad, Vogue, 30 Nov. 2023
Sachi Sachi's menu offers a modern interpretation of Mediterranean cuisine, paired with flavors and dishes from Japan and elsewhere in Asia.
—Jake Emen, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Nov. 2023
Most modern TVs have more than enough performance to be solid gaming monitors, especially ones with 120-Hz refresh rates.
—WIRED, 19 Nov. 2023
The goal was to stop it from attracting any modern supporters of Hitler and to sever associations with its painful history.
—Graham Bowley, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023
Its oversized design not only ensures comfort but adds a trendy, modern touch to your outfit, embodying a perfect blend of style and ease.
—Matthew Parker, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2023
Alex Nelson, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Welcome back to this blend of mid-century modern and a kitschy take on Americana.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023
From Victorian to mid-century modern, there’s a palette for that
Standing in front of an array of hundreds — perhaps thousands — of two- or three-inch paint chips at the hardware store can be intimidating.
—Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023
If Scandinavian modern is more your speed, keep your cabinets natural and paint the walls a subtle pastel.
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 9 Aug. 2023
Here’s a handsome midcentury modern that just hit the market: Awkward interior remodels of a 1960 house at 6323 N.W. Manor Drive in Portland’s Forest Park neighborhood have been replaced by thoughtful renovations conceived by the owners and executed by Epic Construction.
—Jeastman, oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2023
Functional pieces, clean lines, and contrasting materials and fabrics are just a few of the features of mid-century modern.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Aug. 2023
Keep in Mind The style skews towards mid-century modern, which may not suit every home’s decor style.
—Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2023
The latest looks range from clean-line organic modern to the soft curved sofas and rattan pieces reminiscent of the 1970s.
—Jeastman, oregonlive, 25 July 2023
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Adjective
The sewage treatment plant is a modern and pleasant place (at least, as pleasant as sewage works get), with pale green buildings and neat rows of trees in the flower beds.
—Oliver Franklin-Wallis, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
Few figures in modern American history remained so relevant for so long as Mr. Kissinger.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
As industry leaders continue to shape the way brands navigate this landscape, fashion and lifestyle companies are better equipped than ever to ensure their message resonates with the modern digital consumer.
—Alison Bringé, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
After a keynote speech from Princess Eugenie and de Boinville, guests were treated to a performance from Dreams, a modern slavery survivors’ choir that was formed during music therapy sessions provided by the Salvation Army.
—Mario Abad, Vogue, 30 Nov. 2023
Sachi Sachi's menu offers a modern interpretation of Mediterranean cuisine, paired with flavors and dishes from Japan and elsewhere in Asia.
—Jake Emen, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Nov. 2023
Most modern TVs have more than enough performance to be solid gaming monitors, especially ones with 120-Hz refresh rates.
—WIRED, 19 Nov. 2023
The goal was to stop it from attracting any modern supporters of Hitler and to sever associations with its painful history.
—Graham Bowley, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023
Its oversized design not only ensures comfort but adds a trendy, modern touch to your outfit, embodying a perfect blend of style and ease.
—Matthew Parker, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2023
Noun
If mid-century modern is your vibe, this royal blue velvet couch that’s 63 percent off would make a stunning addition to your living room.
—Alex Nelson, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Welcome back to this blend of mid-century modern and a kitschy take on Americana.
—Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023
From Victorian to mid-century modern, there’s a palette for that
Standing in front of an array of hundreds — perhaps thousands — of two- or three-inch paint chips at the hardware store can be intimidating.
—Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023
If Scandinavian modern is more your speed, keep your cabinets natural and paint the walls a subtle pastel.
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 9 Aug. 2023
Here’s a handsome midcentury modern that just hit the market: Awkward interior remodels of a 1960 house at 6323 N.W. Manor Drive in Portland’s Forest Park neighborhood have been replaced by thoughtful renovations conceived by the owners and executed by Epic Construction.
—Jeastman, oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2023
Functional pieces, clean lines, and contrasting materials and fabrics are just a few of the features of mid-century modern.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Aug. 2023
Keep in Mind The style skews towards mid-century modern, which may not suit every home’s decor style.
—Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2023
The latest looks range from clean-line organic modern to the soft curved sofas and rattan pieces reminiscent of the 1970s.
—Jeastman, oregonlive, 25 July 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'modern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing modern
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Dictionary Entries Near modern
Cite this Entry
“Modern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modern. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
modern
1 of 2 adjective
mod·ern
ˈmäd-ərn 
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the recent past
2
: of or relating to the period from about 1500 to the present
modern history
Modern English
modern
2 of 2 noun
: a person of modern times or ideas
More from Merriam-Webster on modern
Nglish: Translation of modern for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of modern for Arabic Speakers
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