synchronous

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

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: synchronous in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

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

The Greater Washington Chinese American Community’s float was the shape of a ship, while a band behind the group played drums in a synchronous rhythm.

— reis thebault, Washington Post, "Fourth of July celebrations more meaningful, worrisome for some Americans," 4 July 2018
So here is what’s different — Slack is synchronous.

— casey newton, The Verge, "Slack didn’t kill email — and it might have made it stronger," 4 July 2018
Soehn predicted the synchronous fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains will peak with their light show around June 7.

— kaitlyn schallhorn, Fox News, "Thousands of fireflies light up US national parks with 'magical' synchronized mating ritual," 22 May 2018
Go in early summer to catch the exceptional synchronous fireflies that light up the night sky for a week or two each year.

— megan michelson, Outside Online, "6 Under-the-Radar National Parks You Should Visit," 20 June 2018
On either side of the battery pack is a synchronous permanent magnet electric motor.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "Forget about that Tesla—the Jaguar I-Pace is the most compelling EV yet," 14 June 2018
Iceye wants to launch 18 satellites weighing 85kg each to a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 400 to 600km.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "Rocket Report: NASA chief sort of endorses SLS; Russia woes; Virgin Orbit," 8 June 2018
The expectation of pickup was what made phones a synchronous medium.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "No One Picks Up the Phone Anymore," 31 May 2018
For all intents and purposes, brushless DC motors and synchronous AC motors are essentially the same.

— The Economist, "Do electric cars dream of software fixes?," 22 Apr. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1669

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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.