current
/ˈkʌr.ənt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Happening now or existing now. Use it for the present time, not the past or future.
- Her current job is in Delhi.
- What is your current address?
noun
A steady flow of water, air, or electricity in one direction.
- The river current was very strong.
- A strong current passed through the wire.
Adinary Nuance
Current is often confused with present, recent, and ongoing. Use current for something true now: current price, current situation, current president. Present is often more general, and ongoing stresses that something is still continuing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hiện tại
- Spanish
- actual
- Chinese
- 当前
- Japanese
- 現在の
- Korean
- 현재의
Etymology
Current comes from Latin currere, meaning “to run.” It entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages, first with the sense “running” or “flowing.”
Common phrases
current affairscurrent accountcurrent situationcurrent flow
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is current more formal than present?
- Yes, current is common in business, news, and academic English.
- What is the difference between current and ongoing?
- Current means happening now. Ongoing means still continuing over time.
- Can current be used for money and bank accounts?
- Yes. A current account is a standard bank account, especially in British English.
- Is current used as a noun in science?
- Yes. It can mean the movement of water, air, or electricity.