concurrent

American  

[kuhn-kur-uhnt, -kuhr-] / kənˈkɜr ənt, -ˈkʌr- /

adjective

1. occurring or existing simultaneously or side by side.

   concurrent attacks by land, sea, and air.

2. acting in conjunction; cooperating.

   the concurrent efforts of several legislators to pass the new law.

3. having equal authority or jurisdiction.

   two concurrent courts of law.

4. accordant or agreeing.

   concurrent testimony by three witnesses.

5. tending to or intersecting at the same point.

   four concurrent lines.

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noun

1. something joint or contributory.

2. Archaic. a rival or competitor.

concurrent British  

/ kənˈkʌrənt /

adjective

1. taking place at the same time or in the same location

2. cooperating

3. meeting at, approaching, or having a common point

   concurrent lines

4. having equal authority or jurisdiction

5. in accordance or agreement; harmonious

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noun

1. something joint or contributory; a concurrent circumstance or cause

Other Word Forms

• concurrently
  adverb
• preconcurrent
  adjective
• unconcurrent
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of concurrent

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French or directly from Latin concurrent- (stem of concurrēns, present participle of concurrere “to run together”; see concur); see con-, current

Explanation

Concurrent means happening at the same time, as in two movies showing at the same theater on the same weekend. You might notice another adjective, current, in concurrent. While current refers to something that is happening right now, concurrent describes two or more things happening at the same time. A prisoner who is serving two concurrent five-year sentences will serve those prison terms together, meaning that he'll probably get out of jail in five years rather than ten. To help you remember the meaning of concurrent, imagine two parallel kayaks being carried down a river by the current at the same time.

Example Sentences

Concurrent with negotiations, strike preparations have been at full steam.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

"Concurrent poverty and climate hazards are clearly a global issue," the report said.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

Concurrent geomagnetic measurements were accessed through superMAG, a worldwide collection of geomagnetic ground stations.

From Science Daily • Oct. 9, 2023

Concurrent with the design of the Long Bridge project, Virginia is advancing design of a $185 million project to add a fourth track approaching the bridge from Alexandria, which officials said is funded.

From Washington Post • Jul. 15, 2022

Concurrent testimonies of the misery of the lower ranks of the Chinese, 30.

From An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Garnier, Germain