current

UK: /ˈkʌrənt/ US: /ˈkɜrənt, ˈkʌr-/ ,(kûr′ənt, kur′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cur•rent /ˈkɜrənt, ˈkʌr-/   adj. 

1. belonging to the time passing;
   present:
   [before a noun] the current rate of inflation.
2. generally or commonly used or accepted;
   prevalent:
   current usage in English.
3. most recent;
   new;
   most up-to-date:
   current events.
4. publicly or commonly reported or known:
   a rumor current among insiders.

n. [countable]

5. a portion of a large body of water or mass of air that moves in a certain direction:
   The raft was swept into the current and carried out to sea.
6. Electricity the movement or flow of electric charge, measured in amperes:
   The current was switched off so that the train crews could walk safely on the tracks.
7. a general tendency, course, or trend, as of thinking or ideas:
   a current of unrest among the students.

cur•rent•ly, adv.: 

This style is currently in fashion.

See -cur-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cur•rent  (kûr′ənt, kur′-), adj. 

1. passing in time;
   belonging to the time actually passing:
   the current month.
2. prevalent;
   customary:
   the current practice.
3. popular;
   in vogue:
   current fashions.
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. [Obs.] genuine;
   authentic.

n. 

9. a flowing;
   flow, as of a river.
10. something that flows, as a stream.
11. a large portion of air, large body of water, etc., moving in a certain direction.
12. the speed at which such flow moves;
    velocity of flow.
13. Electricity See electric current. 
14. a course, as of time or events;
    the main course;
    the general tendency.

• Latin as above; see -ent
• Anglo-French
• Latin current- (stem of currēns) running (present participle of currere); replacing Middle English curraunt
• 1250–1300

cur′rent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. common, widespread, popular, rife.
  Current, present, prevailing, prevalent refer to something generally or commonly in use. That which is current is in general circulation or a matter of common knowledge or acceptance:
  current usage in English.
  Present refers to that which is in use now; it always has the sense of time:
  present customs.
  That which is prevailing is that which has superseded others:
  prevailing fashion.
  That which is prevalent exists or is spread widely:
  a prevalent idea.
• 3. stylish, fashionable, modish.
• 10. See stream. 

Antonyms

• 2. obsolete.
• 3. old-fashioned.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

current / ˈkʌrənt/ adjective

1. of the immediate present; in progress
2. most recent; up-to-date
3. commonly known, practised, or accepted; widespread
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 a flow of electric charge through a conductor
5. the rate of flow of this charge. It is measured in amperes
6. a general trend or drift: currents of opinion

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French corant, literally: running, from corre to run, from Latin currere

ˈcurrently adverb

ˈcurrentness noun