Trivia Time

Which novel ends, "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past"?

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current

American  

[kur-uhnt, kuhr-] / ˈkɜr ənt, ˈkʌr- /

adjective

1. passing in time; belonging to the time actually passing.

   the current month.

2. prevalent; customary.

   the current practice.

   Synonyms:

   rife, popular, widespread, common

   Antonyms:

   obsolete

3. popular; in vogue.

   current fashions.

   Synonyms:

   modish, fashionable, stylish

   Antonyms:

   outmoded, old-fashioned

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. Obsolete. genuine; authentic.

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noun

• currents
  plural

1. a flowing; flow, as of a river.

2. something that flows, as a stream.

3. a large portion of air, large body of water, etc., moving in a certain direction.

4. the speed at which such flow moves; velocity of flow.

5. Electricity. electric current.

6. a course, as of time or events; the main course; the general tendency.

current British  

/ ˈkʌrənt /

adjective

1. of the immediate present; in progress

   current events

2. most recent; up-to-date

3. commonly known, practised, or accepted; widespread

   a current rumour

4. circulating and valid at present

   current coins

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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. physics

   1. a flow of electric charge through a conductor

   2. I. the rate of flow of this charge. It is measured in amperes

5. a general trend or drift

   currents of opinion

current Scientific  

/ kûr′ənt /

1. A flowing movement in a liquid, gas, plasma, or other form of matter, especially one that follows a recognizable course.

2. A flow of positive electric charge. The strength of current flow in any medium is related to voltage differences in that medium, as well as the electrical properties of the medium, and is measured in amperes. Since electrons are stipulated to have a negative charge, current in an electrical circuit actually flows in the opposite direction of the movement of electrons.

3. See also electromagnetism Ohm's law See Note at electric charge

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Usage

What are other ways to say current? Something that is current is customary or in vogue. How is current different from the adjectives prevailing and prevalent? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

Closer Look

Electric current is the phenomenon most often experienced in the form of electricity. Any time an object with a net electric charge is in motion, such as an electron in a wire or a positively charged ion jetting into the atmosphere from a solar flare, there is an electric current; the total current moving through some cross-sectional area in a given direction is simply the amount of positive charge moving through that cross-section. Current is sometimes confused with electric potential or voltage, but a voltage difference between two points (such as the two terminals of a battery) means only that current can potentially flow between them; how much does in fact flow depends on the resistance of the material between the two points. Electrical signals transmitted through a wire generally propagate at nearly the speed of light, but the current in the wire actually moves very slowly: pushing electrons into one end of the wire is rather like pushing a marble into one end of a tube filled with marbles—a marble (or electron) gets pushed out the other end almost instantly, even though the marbles (or electrons) inside move only incrementally.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• currentness
  noun
• noncurrent
  adjective
• precurrent
  adjective
• uncurrent
  adjective
• currently
  adverb
• noncurrently
  adverb
• uncurrently
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• currents
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of current

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin current-, stem of currēns “running,” present participle of currere; replacing Middle English curraunt, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above; see -ent ( def. )

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Explanation

If it's in the past, it's not current. If it's out of date, out of style, or out of time, it's not current. If it's up-to-the-minute, right now, and in the present, it is current. Origins of the word current all point to the meaning "present." Things that are current are happening now; they are part of the present time. News reporting looks at "current affairs" because past affairs are no longer news; they are history. Expressions like "staying current" or "keeping up with current events" show a need or desire to know what's popular, important, or relevant now. As a noun, a current can be a flow of water, electricity, or ideas.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

current currents

A small coastguard ship made an initial attempt using an electrical deterrence device, which generates a weak current that sharks avoid.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

If rates go high enough, it could even choke off the current economic expansion.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026

"There are two things that are bringing together the current opposition bloc," he says.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

The company expects growth across the business to accelerate in the second half of its current fiscal year, Anderson says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

“Old convents New York State” only brings up lists of religious orders, current convents, and articles about amazing places to visit in New York.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

The author’s own research involves measuring tiny electrical currents flowing through parts of our brain cells called ion channels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Powerful solar events can disturb Earth's magnetic field, potentially generating unwanted electrical currents in infrastructure and affecting systems that depend on reliable satellite signals.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

Travelling by sea was fraught with danger, particularly around Kekova Island, where the strong currents and winds have claimed many ships.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

The National Hurricane Center said the worst of Rachel was over but "hazardous coastal conditions" could persist for days, with the highest waves coinciding with high tides, causing life-threatening surf and rip currents.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

Wave tips, foaming, lighter brown, warn of currents deep.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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Related Words

• modern
• ongoing
• present
• prevailing

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