1
as in procedures
a way of acting or proceeding
the president's usual course has been to obtain advice from several people and then make up his own mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in classes
a series of lectures on a subject
a course on American history from the colonial period to the present
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in processes
a usually fixed or ordered series of actions or events leading to a result
set out on the course that would lead to a college degree
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in canals
an open man-made passageway for water
the Erie Canal was replaced by a much larger course, the New York State Barge Canal
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in tracks
to go after or on the track of
after coursing the conspirators for months, the federal agents closed in and made the arrests
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in traverses
to make one's way through, across, or over
once the threat of terrorism became apparent, fighter jets began coursing that corridor on a daily basis
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in races
to proceed or move quickly
racehorses coursing down the track
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of courses
Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026
The food tour company also offers small group culinary tours that include cooking courses taking place on select dates or that can be scheduled at any time.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Caballero is taking communications and geography courses this year and will take biology, biotechnology, English and statistics as a senior.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
The five courses are available online for free and are prerequisites to obtaining a Firefighter Type II certificate, which is given to entry-level wildland firefighters who are responsible for fire suppression, fuels management and mop-up operations.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Two walking-only links courses—North by Tom Doak, South by Coore & Crenshaw—deliver world-class golf framed by cinematic coastal vistas.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
During an early April visit, the meal included 17 courses, all small bites featuring white fish, tuna, scallops, urchin, crab and A5 wagyu beef.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
That’s because in 101-level art history courses, Duchamp is still taught as the man who invented the readymade, seizing objects that were already out there in the world—urinals and bottle racks, shovels and bicycle wheels—and re-presenting them as sculptures of his own.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
And as destination races grow in popularity, the courses offered are getting even more spectacular—the half and full marathons on this list prove it.
—Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2026
Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
Such is the power of cachaça, the essential and irresistible Brazilian sugar cane spirit that courses through each round of tropical cocktails passed across the bar.
—Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2026
More fundamentally, the Christian nationalism that courses through Project 2025 has been somewhat eclipsed by other priorities.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 29 Dec. 2025
Noun
The courses wind through open fields, climb hills and test both endurance and precision.
—Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026
The food tour company also offers small group culinary tours that include cooking courses taking place on select dates or that can be scheduled at any time.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Caballero is taking communications and geography courses this year and will take biology, biotechnology, English and statistics as a senior.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
The five courses are available online for free and are prerequisites to obtaining a Firefighter Type II certificate, which is given to entry-level wildland firefighters who are responsible for fire suppression, fuels management and mop-up operations.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Two walking-only links courses—North by Tom Doak, South by Coore & Crenshaw—deliver world-class golf framed by cinematic coastal vistas.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
During an early April visit, the meal included 17 courses, all small bites featuring white fish, tuna, scallops, urchin, crab and A5 wagyu beef.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
That’s because in 101-level art history courses, Duchamp is still taught as the man who invented the readymade, seizing objects that were already out there in the world—urinals and bottle racks, shovels and bicycle wheels—and re-presenting them as sculptures of his own.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
And as destination races grow in popularity, the courses offered are getting even more spectacular—the half and full marathons on this list prove it.
—Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
But Open, Heaven also courses with youth’s great agony, the cruelty that learning to love should be inexorably followed by learning to grieve its undoing.
—Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
Such is the power of cachaça, the essential and irresistible Brazilian sugar cane spirit that courses through each round of tropical cocktails passed across the bar.
—Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2026
More fundamentally, the Christian nationalism that courses through Project 2025 has been somewhat eclipsed by other priorities.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courses
Noun
-
After the team shared results with state officials, DTSC committed to perform soil testing at 100 homes that had their work done early in the process, before procedures underwent an overhaul.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Even the name is a misnomer, Mackey said, since the same pain can arise among women who’ve had other procedures, including lumpectomies and lymph node surgeries.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What’s changed is that the top students from Los Angeles and Chicago and Atlanta and Buffalo are now applying to the same schools, where the size of the freshman classes have barely budged since the ’70s.—
Jeffrey Selingo,
The Atlantic,
12 Apr. 2026
-
More than 280 people responded, sharing stories like their difficulties in finding child care or challenges in scheduling classes that accommodate single parents and work schedules, said Evan Kravitz, director of the college’s Career Success Center.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The cards are designed to interrupt the rational mind, and to introduce productive chaos into processes that may feel rigid.—
Jennifer Sodini,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Last month, the FIFA Council approved its first comprehensive safeguarding policy, a summary of processes, standards and reporting mechanisms.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
South Korea routes around 70% of its crude oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Ongoing military activity in the Middle East and disagreements over Iran’s control of key shipping routes have left the diplomatic effort vulnerable to collapse before the talks even begin.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Villas and suites are decorated with ornate teak and rattan furnishings, and come with private pools and views overlooking tropical gardens, canals, and mountains.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
These individuals shaped Charleston’s politics and economy by building canals, roads, bridges, forts— virtually all the colony’s infrastructure—but their contributions were not documented and their names are unknown.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services tracks whether states can handle the most common type of benefit application within a 45-day window.—
Sam Whitehead,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Windward, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks international shipping, said all ships transiting the strait must still coordinate safe passage with Iranian authorities, who are requiring hefty tolls of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, paid in cryptocurrency.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Rock Creek Loop traverses approximately seven miles of ravines, creeks, subtropical forest, and small footbridges.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The june bug traverses the flagstones lit through the glass door.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Robby races into the room, our drunk country clubber is being restrained, and his nose is bleeding.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Theron races through the forest and rafts through the rapids while Egerton follows her into caves and down the side of a cliff.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courses. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
