simultaneous

adjective

si·​mul·​ta·​neous ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs How to pronounce simultaneous (audio)
-nyəs,
 also  ˌsi-
1
: existing or occurring at the same time : exactly coincident
2
: satisfied by the same values of the variables
simultaneous equations
simultaneity noun
simultaneously
ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs-lē How to pronounce simultaneous (audio)
-nyəs-
 also  ˌsi-
adverb
simultaneousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for simultaneous

contemporary, contemporaneous, coeval, synchronous, simultaneous, coincident mean existing or occurring at the same time.

contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

Examples of simultaneous in a Sentence

The two gunshots were simultaneous. a simultaneous release of the movie and its soundtrack on CD
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.
Global markets turned lower as Trump announced his tariff plans, although losses so far were relatively contained compared to the intense turmoil of early April when there was an unusual and simultaneous sell-off in US stocks, bonds and the dollar. John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025 Federal immigration agents arrested seven people in KCK and four in Lenexa during simultaneous raids on two El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill locations. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2025 Her voice, presence, and simultaneous power and vulnerability absolutely blows my mind and working with her has been a dream. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2025 But Wolff’s work and influence, alongside a simultaneous rise in the fields of psychology and psychosomatic medicine, helped to disperse those nostrums into the wider culture—and into the prevailing paradigm within which other headache scientists and clinicians toiled. Tom Zeller Jr. july 30, Literary Hub, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for simultaneous

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin simultāneus "occurring at the same time," from Latin simul "in company, together, at the same time" (going back to an apocopated neuter form of similis "having characteristics in common, like") + Medieval Latin -tāneus, as in instantāneus instantaneous, Late Latin momentāneus "momentary," spontāneus "voluntary, unconstrained, spontaneous" — more at similar

Note: The Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources records one occurrence of simultāneus, in the Tractatus de logica of John Wycliffe. At the entry in that dictionary the word is parsed as from simultās "occurrence at the same time" (distinct from classical Latin simultās "state of animosity") + the suffix -āneus. This analysis is possible but seems less likely. Regarding the suffix -āneus see the etymology and note at spontaneous.

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of simultaneous was circa 1660

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Cite this Entry

“Simultaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simultaneous. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

simultaneous

adjective
si·​mul·​ta·​neous ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs How to pronounce simultaneous (audio)
-nyəs
1
: existing or occurring at the same time
2
: satisfied by the same values of the variables
simultaneous equations
simultaneously adverb
Etymology

from Latin simul "at the same time, together" and English -taneous (as in instantaneous) — related to assemble, ensemble

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