ENGLISH
REFERENCE

contemporaries

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //kənˈtɛmpɝˌɛɹiz// UK //kəntˈɛmpəɹəɹiz// con·tem·po·raries

n. people who live or work at the same time as you. You use this word to compare yourself with others in your field or generation.

n. persons living or active during the same period of time. Typically used in plural form to denote peers within a specific profession or historical era.


SIMPLE

She admired her famous contemporaries in the art world.

CONTEXTUAL

The young writer studied the works of her contemporaries to understand the literary trends of the decade.

COMPLEX

Historians often contrast the philosophical views of these thinkers with those of their contemporaries to highlight the radical nature of their arguments.

Synonyms

© 2026 English Reference