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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
  • And then there were the potential ills of a conventional approach, like fumes spewed by laminate flooring.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • Intended to provide France and Europe with full sovereign access to space, VORTEX is designed to lift off atop a rocket without a fairing, have full orbital and atmospheric maneuverability, and land on a conventional runway.
    David Szondy June 27, New Atlas, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Its intuitive editing tools, combined with accessibility through platforms like Google Gemini, Flow, Vids, and Vertex AI, open new frontiers for filmmakers, marketers, educators, and game designers alike.
    Sahar Hashmi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Pair it with flat sandals and a woven bag for exploring a new city, or transition to cooler temps with a cardigan or denim jacket.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 29 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
  • At its narrowest point, the strait is about 21 miles wide, with two shipping lanes two miles wide in each direction.
    Isabel van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • This weekend will see the section of the Mass Pike between Exit 123 in Weston and Exit 125 in Newton reduced to a single lane in each direction for about 72 hours as crews replace the I-90 bridge over the MBTA Worcester Commuter Rail.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 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
  • Kennedy, the nurse in San Diego, said the Level 1 trauma center, which is typically packed, has been emptier than usual.
    Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech - 06, The Hill, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • Pakistani students walk across the Pakistan-Iran border after returning from Iran in Taftan, in Balochistan province, on June 19, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 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 3 Jul. 2025.

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