course

1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯrs

Synonyms of course next

: the act or action of moving in a path from point to point

the planets in their courses

: the path over which something moves or extends: such as

: racecourse

b(1)

: the direction of travel of a vehicle (such as a ship or airplane) usually measured as a clockwise angle from north

also : the projected path of travel

(2)

: a point of the compass

: watercourse

: golf course

: accustomed procedure or normal action

the law taking its course

: a chosen manner of conducting oneself : way of acting

Our wisest course is to retreat.

c(1)

: progression through a development or period or a series of acts or events

the course of history

(2)

: life history, career

: an ordered process or succession: such as

: a number of lectures or other matter dealing with a subject

took a course in zoology

also : a series of such courses constituting a curriculum

a premed course

: a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period

: a part of a meal served at one time

the main course

: layer

especially : a continuous level range of brick or masonry throughout a wall

: the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast

course

2 of 2

verb

coursed; coursing

transitive verb

: to follow close upon : pursue

: to hunt or pursue (game) with hounds

: to cause (dogs) to run (as after game)

: to run or move swiftly through or over : traverse

Jets coursed the area daily.

intransitive verb

: to run or pass rapidly along or as if along an indicated path

blood coursing through the veins

Phrases

in due course

: after a normal passage of time : in the expected or allotted time

His discoveries led in due course to new forms of treatment.

of course

: following the ordinary way or procedure

will be done as a matter of course

: as might be expected

Of course we will go.

Example Sentences

Noun the course of a river The pilot brought the plane back on course. The ship was blown off course by a storm. She's taking a chemistry course this semester. Students earn the degree after a two-year course of study. There is no cure, but the treatment will slow the course of the disease. Verb the blood coursing through my veins Tears were coursing down his cheeks. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These aren’t desirable side effects, of course, but in cases when naloxone must be given, the alternative is death. —

Katia Hetter, CNN, 2 Mar. 2023 But of course fans still hold out hope that the slow-burn relationship will finally spark in a big way as the series goes on. —

Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2023 Unless, of course, that means opening up an Only Fans account. —

Dalton Ross, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023 Musk’s approach to leadership has been heavily criticized, of course, but far from everyone is dismissing it out of hand. —

Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2023 There's a long way to go until that happens, of course, but Wednesday was a promising first step. —

Jace Evans, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2023 Meghan and Harry, of course, now reside in Montecito, California, with their two children Archie and Lili after stepping back from their working senior royal family roles for good in 2021. —

Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 2 Mar. 2023 And, of course, the skincare was the star of the show. —

Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023 And of course those are stories that don’t necessarily have a journalistic rigor that these do. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2023

Verb

Healthcare delivery can no longer afford to continue down this path – the system must course correct altogether. —

Rita Numerof, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023 In a summary of its concerns sent to the Orlando Sentinel, the department also cited objections to course lessons on reparations, the idea that descendants of enslaved people should be financially compensated. —

Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2023 Republican concerns about a leftward tilt in classrooms predate the African American studies course and last week’s curriculum changes. —

Dante Chinni, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2023 Texas’ first ethnic studies course, focusing on Mexican American studies, gained statewide approval in 2018 after four years of controversy over its creation, textbook material and naming. —

Dallas News, 1 Feb. 2023 At the same time, the TV business continues to consolidate and course correct following years of free spending and bloated budgets. —

Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2023 But that disappointment quickly devolved into rumors of All About Eve-level drama, with Feldstein reportedly feeling unsupported by producers who were already looking to course correct with a new star. —

Ew Staff, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2022 The organ’s location ensures its intimate relationship with many of the key blood vessels that course through the abdomen. —

Douglas G. Adler, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2017 Or course such a stay comes with a White Lotus-worthy price tag. —

Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 17 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'course.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cours, borrowed from Anglo-French cours, curs, going back to Latin cursus "action of running, charge, movement along a path, progress," from currere "to run, flow" + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at current entry 1

Note: As pointed out by Michiel de Vaan (Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Leiden, 2008), the expected outcome of the verbal adjective in *-to- and the verbal noun in *-tū- would be *kostus < *korstus < *kr̥s-to-, kr̥s-tū-, from the verbal base *kr̥s- (> currere). The attested form cursus for both the past participle and verbal noun reflects remodeling on the pattern of stems ending in a dental (as morsus from mordere "to bite," versus from vertere "to turn"). As generally in Latin, the verbal noun, where full grade of the root would be expected, has been supplanted by zero grade of the verbal adjective.

Verb

Middle English coursen "to pursue," derivative of cours course entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of course was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing course

Cite this Entry

Style

“Course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/course. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

course

1 of 2 noun

ˈkō(ə)rs

ˈkȯ(ə)rs

: the act or action of moving in a path from point to point

the planets in their courses

: the direction or route of motion or progress

the course of a river

a ship's course

: land laid out for golf

: normal or accustomed process or procedure

the disease ran its course

: manner of proceeding : conduct

a wise course

: progression through a period of time or a series of acts or events

was built in the course of a year

: an ordered process or series

: a series of classes in a subject

also : a group of such courses

a four-year course in chemistry

: a part of a meal served at one time

had salad for the first course

: a layer of brick or other building material in a wall

course

2 of 2 verb

coursed; coursing

: to run through or over

buffalo coursed the plains

: to move rapidly : race

blood coursing through the veins

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cours, course "action of moving in a certain path, path of movement, progress," from early French curs, course (same meaning), derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to corridor, current