synchronous

play

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

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

synchronously

adverb

synchronousness

noun

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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

Only one - the synchronous firefly - turns the springtime mating ritual into an incandescent performance that dazzles like a laser show.

— andrea sachs, chicagotribune.com, "For 2 spectacular weeks, mating fireflies light up Smoky Mountains," 15 June 2017
A more synchronous global recovery adds a tailwind to the U.S. expansion as export markets strengthen and financial conditions remain easy.

— craig torres, Bloomberg.com, "Fed Plan for Gradual Rate Hikes Is Starting to Look Complacent," 11 May 2017
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
Synchronous photinus carolinus—say that five times fast.

— meredith carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains Light Up At Once—Here's How to See Them," 27 Apr. 2017
Seekers of Presidential frisson cherish the synchronous deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, on July 4, 1826, a temporal thrill doubled by the date’s being the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

— thomas mallon, The New Yorker, "George Saunders Gets Inside Lincoln’s Head," 13 Feb. 2017
But despite the synchronous display, only the most dominant of the alpha male turkeys—six out of 170—are allowed to mate.

— mark strauss, National Geographic, "Turkeys Can Swim—And Other Fun Facts for Thanksgiving Table Talk," 22 Nov. 2016
Fordyce proposed two methods for placing the LM REL into its operational orbit (a Syncom 2-type synchronous orbit inclined 13.2° relative to Earth’s equator).

— david s. f. portree, WIRED, "LM Relay Experiment Laboratory (1966)," 10 Aug. 2012

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

See Words from the same year

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