English Reference

Word

current

Phoneticscur·rent, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈkɑɹənt/

UK/kˈʌɹənt/

Definitions

01happening now

B1 · Intermediate

adj. happening or existing right now.

adj. belonging to the present time; currently happening or being used.

“The magazine covers current events from all over the world.”

“Under the current administration, tax laws have undergone significant revisions that affect small business owners across the country.”

Pitfall

I am reading a current book.

I am reading a book at the moment.

Use 'current' for situations or states (current events, current job), not usually for a specific action you are doing right now.

02generally accepted

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. commonly used or accepted by most people at this time.

adj. prevalent or generally accepted at the present time; having currency within a specific community.

“That theory is no longer current among modern scientists.”

“The term, though once popular in academic circles, is no longer current in contemporary sociological discourse.”

Antonyms

03flow of water or air

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a steady movement of water or air in a particular direction.

n. the continuous, directed movement of a fluid such as water or gas.

“The strong river current made it difficult to swim to the other side.”

“Oceanographers track deep-sea currents to better understand how heat is distributed across the planet's surface.”

Synonyms

04electricity

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science Technical

n. the flow of electricity through a wire or circuit.

n. the time rate of flow of electric charge through a conductor or space.

“Be careful because the electric current in these wires is very high.”

“The technician measured the current in amperes to ensure the circuit was not overloaded before connecting the new hardware.”

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the phenomenon, but countable when referring to specific circuits.

Synonyms

voltageamperage

05general trend

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a general mood or set of ideas that influences a group of people.

n. a general tendency or course of events; a drift of opinion or sentiment.

“There was a strong current of anger among the protesters.”

“A powerful current of nationalism began to move through the country, influencing the outcome of the local elections.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “current” in context.

Verb

01. current flows

“The water current flows faster after heavy rainfall.”

noun + verb

02. current pulls

“Be careful, as the ocean current pulls you away from the beach.”

noun + verb

03. fight current

“The swimmers had to fight the current to reach the shore.”

verb + noun

04. measure current

“The technician used a special tool to measure the electric current.”

verb + noun

Adjective

05. electric current

“A metal wire is used to conduct the electric current.”

adj + noun

06. strong current

“The strong current in the river made it dangerous to swim.”

adj + noun

Noun

07. direction of current

“The boat drifted slowly in the direction of the current.”

noun + prep + noun

08. strength of current

“The strength of the current depends on the tide.”

noun + prep + noun

09. against the current

“It is difficult to row a boat against the current.”

10. carried by the current

“The fallen leaves were carried by the current down the stream.”

11. switch off the current

“Always switch off the current before repairing electrical wires.”

Confusables

current vs actual

Actual means real or factual, while current means happening right now.

RememberActual = Fact. Current = Calendar.

Etymology

From Middle English curraunt, borrowed from Old French curant (French courant), present participle of courre (“to run”), from Latin currere (“to run”) (present participle currens). Doublet of courant.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

current(B1)

Related words

Domain

Physics

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference