current 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkər-ənt How to pronounce current (audio)
Definition of currentnext
1
as in conventional
accepted, used, or practiced by most people current wisdom on parenting favors allowing children lots of self-expression

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in new
being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles current therapies for treating cancer have success rates that were undreamed of only a few decades ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in present
existing or in progress right now the current fund-raising effort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

current

2 of 2

noun

1
as in direction
a prevailing or general movement or inclination the currents of fashion are always changing

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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
More: Trump issues new travel ban affecting nearly 20 countries: What travelers need to know Which nations have been targeted in current and previous travel bans? —George Petras, USA Today, 6 June 2025 Its current sanctuary, complete with state-of-the-art sound and video systems, can hold half its 8,000 members at a time at its campus in Lochearn. —Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 6 June 2025
Noun
To deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy to industries, nations, and communities, offshore wind farms, floating solar parks, and kinetic energy harvested from waves, currents, and tides must form a major part of the solution. —Sturla Henriksen, Time, 5 June 2025 The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road. —Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for current
Recent Examples of Synonyms for current
  1. conventional
  2. new
  3. present
  4. direction
  5. wind
  6. usual
  7. modern
  8. ongoing
Adjective
  • The image - more grainy than conventional high-resolution photographs and in black and white - appears to show the debris of several aircraft located along the runway of the Belaya military air base or parked in protective revetments nearby.
    — Tom Balmforth, USA Today, 5 June 2025
  • For more details on the nature of conventional AI versus AGI and ASI, see my analysis at the link here.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of conventional
Adjective
  • The hitmaker returned to the ceremony in 2025, debuting a new look on the red carpet.
    — Michael Nied, People.com, 6 June 2025
  • President Donald Trump flipped Miami-Dade red for the first time since George H.W. Bush won the presidency in 1988, riding new support throughout the majority-Hispanic county.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Definition of new
Adjective
  • Other language in the bill would prohibit tax credits for many undocumented individuals who are lawfully present, including those with asylum protections.
    — Danielle J. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 6 June 2025
  • All of the hallmarks that made the group such a force in the Seventies and Eighties — the irresistible melodies, the spark-up-and-chill vibes, those voices — are present here, without any trace of aping the past.
    — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
Definition of present
Noun
  • This would entail Lopez heading to the English capital and Christopher Nkunku travelling in the opposite direction to its Catalan counterpart.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • His regular-season numbers are astonishing, but so are his postseason stats… in the opposite direction.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of direction
Noun
  • Expect quarter-sized hail (1 inch) and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
  • Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2025
Definition of wind
Adjective
  • Recruiters are no longer confined to hiring in the same usual saturated areas, benefiting emerging tech hubs.
    — Nacho De Marco, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Despite being one of the pre-tournament favorites, the Northern Irishman performed poorly in the event, which many attribute to his need to play with a different driver than usual.
    — Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Definition of usual
Adjective
  • Art Nouveau Brass Mirror This brass mirror from the 1960s blends modern trends with antique materials.
    — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
  • While North Korea's naval forces are widely seen as far inferior to those of its rivals, analysts say a destroyer equipped with modern missile and radar systems could still boost the North's offensive and defensive capabilities.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
Definition of modern
Adjective
  • China remains the hub for global electronics manufacturing, including for PC graphics cards, video game consoles, and smartphones, although companies have been moving their manufacturing to India, Vietnam and Taiwan to avoid Trump’s ongoing trade war.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 May 2025
  • Investment bankers, who have also enjoyed plenty of fees from Vodafone over the years, will be hoping that the European Commission’s ongoing review of merger guidelines leads to further consolidation activity.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 28 May 2025
Definition of ongoing

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current
currently
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Cite this Entry

“Current.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/current. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on current

Nglish: Translation of current for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about current

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