concurrent
/kənˈkɜː.rənt/- 1.
Happening or existing at the same time as something else. It describes events, processes, or activities that overlap in time rather than one following after the other.
- The company launched two concurrent marketing campaigns this quarter.
- She managed concurrent projects without missing any deadlines.
- The two trials were held concurrent with each other.
- 2.
In computing and technology, describes multiple processes or tasks that run at the same time, sharing system resources. Also used in law to mean sentences served at the same time rather than one after another.
- The server handles concurrent user requests efficiently.
- The judge ordered concurrent sentences of five years each.
Adinary Nuance
Concurrent is often confused with simultaneous and parallel, but each word fits a slightly different situation. Use simultaneous when two things happen at the exact same instant — for example, "simultaneous translation" at a conference. Concurrent is better when two processes or periods overlap and run alongside each other over time, such as "concurrent degree programs" or "concurrent trials." The word parallel suggests two things happening side by side with no necessary connection, while concurrent often implies a formal or deliberate overlap — making it the preferred choice in academic, legal, and technical writing. For IELTS essays and formal contexts, concurrent signals precision that simultaneous or parallel may not always convey.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Đồng thời
- Spanish
- Concurrente
- Chinese
- 同时发生的
- Japanese
- 同時の
- Korean
- 동시의
Etymology
From Latin "concurrere," meaning "to run together," built from "con-" (together) and "currere" (to run). The word entered English in the late 15th century, originally in legal and philosophical writing.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'concurrent' and 'simultaneous'?
- 'Simultaneous' means happening at the exact same moment, like simultaneous applause. 'Concurrent' describes processes or periods that overlap and run at the same time over a longer stretch, like concurrent training programs. In academic writing, 'concurrent' is usually the safer, more precise choice.
- Is 'concurrent' a formal word?
- Yes, 'concurrent' is formal and is most common in academic writing, legal documents, and technical fields like computing. In casual speech, people are more likely to say 'at the same time' instead.
- What does 'served concurrently' mean in a legal sentence?
- When prison sentences are 'served concurrently,' the person serves all sentences at the same time. For example, two five-year sentences served concurrently means only five years total — not ten. The opposite is 'served consecutively.'
- Can I use 'concurrent' in an IELTS essay?
- Yes, and it can boost your lexical resource score. Use it to describe overlapping events, trends, or processes — for example, 'the concurrent rise in urbanization and pollution.' Make sure the context is about things happening at the same time, not one after another.