current

adjective
cur·​rent | \ ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce current (audio) , ˈkə-rənt\

Definition of current

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a archaic : running, flowing
b(1) : presently elapsing the current year
(2) : occurring in or existing at the present time the current crisis current supplies current needs
(3) : most recent the magazine's current issue the current survey
2 : used as a medium of exchange
3 : generally accepted, used, practiced, or prevalent at the moment current fashions current ideas about education

current

noun

Definition of current (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the part of a fluid body (such as air or water) moving continuously in a certain direction
b : the swiftest part of a stream
c : a tidal or nontidal movement of lake or ocean water
d : flow marked by force or strength
2a : a tendency or course of events that is usually the result of an interplay of forces currents of public opinion
b : a prevailing mood : strain
3 : a flow of electric charge also : the rate of such flow

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Other Words from current

Adjective

currently adverb
currentness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for current

Synonyms: Adjective

conventional, customary, going, popular, prevailing, prevalent, standard, stock, usual

Synonyms: Noun

direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide, trend, wind

Antonyms: Adjective

nonstandard, unconventional, unpopular, unusual

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Choose the Right Synonym for current

Noun

tendency, trend, drift, tenor, current mean movement in a particular direction. tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force. a general tendency toward inflation trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course. the long-term trend of the stock market is upward drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces the drift of the population away from large cities or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse. got the drift of her argument tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course. the tenor of the times current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course. an encounter that changed the current of my life

Examples of current in a Sentence

Adjective

The dictionary's current edition has 10,000 new words. Who is your current employer? We need to keep current with the latest information.

Noun

Strong currents pulled the swimmer out to sea. Air currents carried the balloon for miles. The circuit supplies current to the saw.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Clark is among 10 current or former jail employees charged in connection with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office probe of the jail. Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com, "Cuyahoga County Jail officer who pepper-sprayed restrained inmate arrested on extortion, intimidation charges," 22 Aug. 2019 In Bindra’s hands, the overworked staple tastes current. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, "At Punjab Grill, there are plenty of gilty pleasures," 21 Aug. 2019 The current, very similar rhetoric from Beijing about Hong Kong’s unrest shows how alarming the situation is. The Economist, "Hong Kong “is a battle for survival and for freedom”," 21 Aug. 2019 Even in the current unrestored state, the colors—black, white, gray, ocher, Pompeii red, deep maroon—are astonishingly intense. Chiara Goia, Smithsonian, "The New Treasures of Pompeii," 21 Aug. 2019 Neither the president's Manchester rally last week nor the current state of the economy influenced the governor's decision, the source said. Nicole Sganga, CBS News, "Despite long odds, Republican Trump naysayers are seeing what the mood is in New Hampshire," 21 Aug. 2019 If caught in the current, the two men could be drifting north toward Jacksonville, authorities report. J.d. Gallop, USA TODAY, "Two firefighters went missing Friday on a fishing trip. Their search remains ongoing," 18 Aug. 2019 Migratory fish are used to following a current, so Whooshh manipulates the flow of the water to attract them into the system. Rachel Riederer, The New Yorker, "The Nihilistic Euphoria of the Fish Tube," 15 Aug. 2019 The difference between the current a 3.93% mortgage and a 4.8% mortgage for a $400,000 loan comes to savings of about a $200 a month. Chris Isidore, CNN, "Mortgage rates fall below 4% and refis explode as rates tumble," 14 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Constantly changing with the currents, this oval shaped body of water is around 1,000 miles wide and 3,000 miles long. Arwa Damon, CNN, "Microplastics discovered in 'extreme' concentrations in the North Atlantic," 19 Aug. 2019 The debris probably has moved in and out with the ocean currents, Van Houtan said, from perhaps thousands of miles away. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, "Levels of plastic pollution in Monterey Bay rival those in Great Pacific Garbage Patch," 6 June 2019 Democrats saw his most recent presidential run, with currents of social liberalism, as a bane to their party, even as Johnson criticized Trump for his treatment of women and the border wall proposal. Morgan Lee, The Seattle Times, "APNewsBreak: Johnson to make Libertarian bid for Senate seat," 14 Aug. 2018 Jamming the conveyor Global ocean circulation is a bit like a branching conveyor belt, with currents pushing water one way at the surface and allowing it to return along the bottom. Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "Elusive trigger for cooling 13,000 years ago might have been found," 11 July 2018 Even so, the Strait is a busy shipping lane with treacherous currents. Fox News, "The Latest: Spain: Over 1,000 rescued at sea in last 3 days," 25 June 2018 On top of all this is the pronounced female slant (something obviously planned many years ago but utterly in step with modern currents): The story puts Elastigirl front and center, with adolescent daughter Violet beginning to spread her wings. Todd Mccarthy, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Incredibles 2': Film Review," 11 June 2018 The National Weather Service said the rip current threat along the Alabama coast should remain high through today, with moderate currents forecast for the remainder of the week. Leada Gore, AL.com, "Beach conditions: Red flags fly in Gulf Shores due to potentially dangerous surf," 26 Mar. 2018 Behind the scenes, however, the 69-year-old CEO’s current and former associates see a different man. Washington Post, "Scandal-ridden NRA head LaPierre digs in against gun control," 9 Aug. 2019

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

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First Known Use of current

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for current

Adjective