simultaneous
Americanadjective
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of simultaneous
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin simul “together” ( see similar) + (instan)taneous
Explanation
The adjective simultaneous describes something that is done at the same time as something else. "The teachers all assigned simultaneous projects to the students that week. The kids were grumbling and sleep-deprived due to the grind." The Latin root of simultaneous is simul, which also means "at the same time." One way to remember this word is to think of simulcast programs that are simultaneously available through different television networks, radio stations or Web sites — so you can catch that concert on TV while your friend is listening to it on his car radio.
Vocabulary lists containing simultaneous
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 7–11
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100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Simultaneous meetings can have a spillover effect on the markets.
From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025
Simultaneous exhibitions opened on Friday at 12 institutions, putting more than half of the population within an hour of one of the masterpieces.
From BBC • May 10, 2024
Simultaneous measurement of numerous biomolecular variables, known as multi-omics, enables deep and comprehensive profiling of human biology.
From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2024
Simultaneous fireworks will be held in the evening in Bosnian Serb towns and in Belgrade, the capital of neighboring Serbia.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2024
The Simultaneous Fertilization had occurred in the early morning hours of March 24, 1923, in separate, vertical bedrooms, after a night out at the theater.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
