synchronous

adjective syn·chro·nous \ ˈsiŋ-krə-nəs , ˈsin- \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of synchronous

1 : happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time

2 : recurring or operating at exactly the same periods

3 : involving or indicating synchronism

4 a : having the same period; also : having the same period and phase

b : geostationary

5 : of, used in, or being digital communication (as between computers) in which a common timing signal is established that dictates when individual bits can be transmitted and which allows for very high rates of data transfer

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synchronously

adverb

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synchronousness

noun

See synchronous defined for English-language learners

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Examples of synchronous in a Sentence

the synchronous arrival of a baby sister and loss of a beloved grandmother strongly affected the child

Recent Examples of synchronous from the Web

Students can choose to divide their time between classrooms and synchronous WebEx sessions.

— erin arvedlund, Philly.com, "#Inflategate? After losing its #1 U.S. News ranking, Temple's online MBA program faces many challenges," 22 Mar. 2018
The idea of synchronous live conversation seems very counterintuitive right now.

— recode staff, Recode, "Full transcript: Houseparty’s Ben Rubin on Recode Media," 22 Mar. 2018
This annual event showcases the synchronous fireflies (photinus carolinus), one of the few species in the world who coordinate their flash patterns, according to the National Park Service.

— katina beniaris, Country Living, "Thousands of Fireflies Will Light Up the Great Smoky Mountains This May," 27 Apr. 2017
On the hybrid, the four-cylinder engine works with a synchronous AC motor good for 51 horsepower, along with a 1.76-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

— tony markovich, Car and Driver, "Updated 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Play Catch-Up," 8 Feb. 2018
Every major economy on earth is expanding at once, a synchronous wave of growth that is creating jobs, lifting fortunes and tempering fears of popular discontent.

— peter s. goodman, New York Times, "Every One of the World’s Big Economies Is Now Growing," 27 Jan. 2018
Rocket Lab plans to primarily deliver payloads to Sun-synchronous orbits, which means the satellite will pass over the same parts of the Earth at the same time each day.

— mika mckinnon, Smithsonian, "Rocket Lab Launched This Glittery Sphere Into Orbit," 26 Jan. 2018
The timing was synchronous; their temperaments clicked.

— anndee hochman, Philly.com, "The Parent Trip: Jim Guyon and José Lugo of Williamstown," 13 Sep. 2017
In the nose of the car is an AC synchronous electric motor (129 hp, 184 lb-ft of torque) driving the front wheels through a two-speed gearbox.

— dan neil, WSJ, "The Avant-Garde BMW i8: Bavaria’s Answer to Tesla," 31 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'synchronous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Communications satellites are usually put into a synchronous (or geosynchronous) orbit, circling the earth once every 24 hours and so appearing to hover over a single spot on the surface. This type of synchronized movement is important, since you have to know where to aim your satellite dish. In the computer field, synchronous usually refers to the use of a simple timing signal that permits very rapid exchange of data between computers. The kind of mysterious coincidence sometimes called synchronicity—such as the appearance of two different comic-strip characters named Dennis the Menace in the U.S. and Britain within three days of each other in 1951—has fascinated people for centuries.

Origin and Etymology of synchronous

Late Latin synchronos, from Greek, from syn- + chronos time

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First Known Use: 1669

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synchronous Synonyms

Synonyms

coeval, coexistent, coexisting, coextensive, coincident, coincidental, concurrent, contemporaneous, contemporary, coterminous, simultaneous;

Antonyms

asynchronous, noncontemporary, nonsimultaneous, nonsynchronous;

Synonym Discussion of synchronous

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

SYNCHRONOUS Defined for English Language Learners

synchronous

adjective

Definition of synchronous for English Language Learners

: happening, moving, or existing at the same time

Medical Dictionary

synchronous

adjective syn·chro·nous \ ˈsiŋ-krə-nəs, ˈsin- \

medical Definition of synchronous

1 : happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time

2 : recurring or operating at exactly the same periods

3 : having the same period; also : having the same period and phase

—

synchronously

adverb

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synchronously

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Examples of synchronous in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of synchronous

synchronous Synonyms

Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of synchronous

SYNCHRONOUS Defined for English Language Learners

synchronous

Definition of synchronous for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

synchronous

medical Definition of synchronous

synchronously

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