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current

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noun

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as in wind
noticeable movement of air in a particular direction curtains that were being lightly lifted by a fresh current from the open window

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word current different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of current are drift, tendency, tenor, and trend. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When would drift be a good substitute for current?

While in some cases nearly identical to current, drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities
got the drift of her argument

When might tendency be a better fit than current?

While the synonyms tendency and current are close in meaning, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

In what contexts can tenor take the place of current?

The words tenor and current can be used in similar contexts, but tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

When can trend be used instead of current?

The meanings of trend and current largely overlap; however, trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

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 current
Adjective
That’s according to Paul Medford, vp unscripted, current series, at Nickelodeon, who gave The Hollywood Reporter the first look at the set design for the show, which shakes things up from years past. Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025 The tribe will close its current single-level casino, which celebrates its fourth anniversary July 1, three months after the introductory casino opens. Construction of the main casino complex started about a year ago. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2025
Noun
When the water levels are low, a narrow rock ledge will appear that halts the Zambezi River's current and entices the brave. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 There’s the conveyor belt of currents taking plastic from a beach in Florida, into the north Atlantic high up into the Arctic. Vivienne Walt, Time, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for current
Recent Examples of Synonyms for current
Adjective
  • The report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute comes against the backdrop of China's military buildup—both conventional and nuclear.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
  • The final decade of the 20th Century was the beginning of the SUV boom, with automakers across the spectrum expanding their lineups to include machines that blended the height and four-wheel-drive capability of pickups with the roomy cabins and comfortable rides of conventional cars.
    Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Over at Brooks’s, Shai comes over and teaches him how to use his new sewing machine, which is a fascinating dynamic because Shai is an agent’s assistant while Brooks is a clothing designer.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 18 June 2025
  • Matt Dillon, Bret Maverick, Ben Cartwright and the Virginian all have a new place to hang their Stetsons.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Monitoring equipment forms were not present for about 50% of the files.
    Glynis Kazanjian, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2025
  • As seen in Craig’s movies, some of the polish comes with age, but the core tenets remain — and will be present in 007 First Light.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • This after Windows 11 dipped and Windows 10 recovered in May, widening the gap between new and old in the wrong direction.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Emerging from the London Underground, Turnpike Lane has a bustling shopping area in either direction: cafés, supermarkets and takeaways with plenty of people mulling about.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • The water fountains are trickling; wind chimes tinkle and shimmer in the breeze, and the store’s seemingly endless lines of indoor and outdoor décor are available to celebrate each season and occasion.
    Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
  • Residents can be ready for wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is an excellent day for business and commercial ventures, because your objectives and goals are clearer to you than usual.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 22 June 2025
  • Did Bill Plaschke ghost-write these letters with his usual accurate predictions/suggestions?
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Many found themselves out of work, while those who did find jobs discovered they were paid less than the Danish workers arriving in droves to build infrastructure or modern apartment buildings.
    Morten Høi Jensen, The Dial, 19 June 2025
  • Building these year-round, evolving immersive experiences will allow the streaming giant to embed itself further into modern culture and hopefully build loyalty amongst consumers.
    Clara Ludmir, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Geneva resident Heidi Cristina likes coming to Swedish Days in the city, bringing her daughter Kendall, 8, on Saturday morning to the ongoing festival along with some of Kendall’s friends.
    David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • And, in severe cases, the brain’s physical architecture begins to shift in response to the ongoing sense of danger.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Current.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/current. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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