current

[kur-uhnt, kuhr-]

adjective

1. passing in time; belonging to the time actually passing.

   the current month.

2. prevalent; customary.

   the current practice.

   Synonyms: rife, popular, widespread, common
   Antonyms: obsolete

3. popular; in vogue.

   current fashions.

   Synonyms: modish, fashionable, stylish
   Antonyms: outmoded, old-fashioned

4. new; present; most recent.

   the current issue of a publication.

5. publicly reported or known.

   a rumor that is current.

6. passing from one to another; circulating, as a coin.

7. Archaic.,  running; flowing.

8. Obsolete.,  genuine; authentic.

noun

1. a flowing; flow, as of a river.

2. something that flows, as a stream.

3. a large portion of air, large body of water, etc., moving in a certain direction.

4. the speed at which such flow moves; velocity of flow.

5. Electricity.,  electric current.

6. a course, as of time or events; the main course; the general tendency.

current

/ ˈkʌrənt /

adjective

1. of the immediate present; in progress

   current events

2. most recent; up-to-date

3. commonly known, practised, or accepted; widespread

   a current rumour

4. circulating and valid at present

   current coins

noun

1. (esp of water or air) a steady usually natural flow

2. a mass of air, body of water, etc, that has a steady flow in a particular direction

3. the rate of flow of such a mass

4. Also called: electric current. physics

   1. a flow of electric charge through a conductor

   2. I. the rate of flow of this charge. It is measured in amperes

5. a general trend or drift

   currents of opinion

current

1. A flowing movement in a liquid, gas, plasma, or other form of matter, especially one that follows a recognizable course.

2. A flow of positive electric charge. The strength of current flow in any medium is related to voltage differences in that medium, as well as the electrical properties of the medium, and is measured in amperes. Since electrons are stipulated to have a negative charge, current in an electrical circuit actually flows in the opposite direction of the movement of electrons.

3. See also electromagnetism Ohm's law See Note at electric charge

Other Word Forms

• currentness noun
• currently adverb
• noncurrent adjective
• noncurrently adverb
• precurrent adjective
• uncurrent adjective
• uncurrently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of current¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin current-, stem of currēns “running,” present participle of currere; replacing Middle English curraunt, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above; -ent ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of current¹

C13: from Old French corant, literally: running, from corre to run, from Latin currere

A Closer Look

Electric current is the phenomenon most often experienced in the form of electricity. Any time an object with a net electric charge is in motion, such as an electron in a wire or a positively charged ion jetting into the atmosphere from a solar flare, there is an electric current; the total current moving through some cross-sectional area in a given direction is simply the amount of positive charge moving through that cross-section. Current is sometimes confused with electric potential or voltage, but a voltage difference between two points (such as the two terminals of a battery) means only that current can potentially flow between them; how much does in fact flow depends on the resistance of the material between the two points. Electrical signals transmitted through a wire generally propagate at nearly the speed of light, but the current in the wire actually moves very slowly: pushing electrons into one end of the wire is rather like pushing a marble into one end of a tube filled with marbles—a marble (or electron) gets pushed out the other end almost instantly, even though the marbles (or electrons) inside move only incrementally.

Example Sentences

Their only current MS in a party fighting to control the Senedd, is floating the idea that in the future the institution might not exist under a Reform-led Welsh government.

From BBC

In the digital landscape, the political cartoon, once a staple of the American newspaper, has fallen by the wayside, crushed under a mountain of current events and covert biases.

From Salon

Instead, media reports indicate that he has spent 29% of his current term at his own golf courses, presumably having his caddy make favorable drops for him whenever the balls are out of sight.

From Salon

Retail analyst Natalie Berg said there was "no room for complacency" in the current retail landscape.

From BBC

The vote came amid a wider debate over the Democratic Party’s approach to Israel, and whether recent actions represent a genuine shift in policy thinking, as opposed to a temporary, tactical adjustment to current circumstances.

From Salon

Related Words

• modern 
• ongoing 
• present 
• prevailing 

When To Use

What are other ways to say current?

Something that is current is customary or in vogue. How is current different from the adjectives prevailing and prevalent? Find out on Thesaurus.com.