simultaneous

adjective

si·mul·ta·neous ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs

-nyəs,

also ˌsi-

Synonyms of simultaneous next

: existing or occurring at the same time : exactly coincident

: satisfied by the same values of the variables

simultaneous equations

simultaneity

ˌsī-məl-tə-ˈnē-ə-tē

-ˈnā-

also ˌsi-

noun

simultaneously

ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs-lē

-nyəs-

also ˌsi-

adverb

simultaneousness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for simultaneous

contemporary, contemporaneous, coeval, synchronous, simultaneous, coincident mean existing or occurring at the same time.

contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them.

Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin

contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people.

contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping

coeval refers usually to periods, ages, eras, eons.

two stars thought to be coeval

synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and especially in periodic intervals.

synchronous timepieces

simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time.

the two shots were simultaneous

coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship.

the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year

Examples of simultaneous in a Sentence

The two gunshots were simultaneous. a simultaneous release of the movie and its soundtrack on CD

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Like those two office suites, Apple's productivity apps offer simultaneous co-editing with multiple authors, thanks to iCloud syncing. —

PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 Many of the starry, simultaneous campaign events will be featured as part of a national livestream show Monday night airing from the seven battleground states, a senior Harris campaign official said Saturday. —

Judy Kurtz, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024 Zoom out: The Harris campaign held simultaneous Vote for Freedom rallies across the country, from Atlanta to Las Vegas and Milwaukee. —

Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024 The simultaneous arrival of TSMC and ongoing cuts on the Colorado River have pushed the city to regulate its large water users. —

Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for simultaneous

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin simultāneus "occurring at the same time," from Latin simul "in company, together, at the same time" (going back to an apocopated neuter form of similis "having characteristics in common, like") + Medieval Latin -tāneus, as in instantāneus instantaneous, Late Latin momentāneus "momentary," spontāneus "voluntary, unconstrained, spontaneous" — more at similar

Note: The Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources records one occurrence of simultāneus, in the Tractatus de logica of John Wycliffe. At the entry in that dictionary the word is parsed as from simultās "occurrence at the same time" (distinct from classical Latin simultās "state of animosity") + the suffix -āneus. This analysis is possible but seems less likely. Regarding the suffix -āneus see the etymology and note at spontaneous.

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of simultaneous was circa 1660

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Simultaneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simultaneous. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

simultaneous

adjective

si·mul·ta·neous ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs

-nyəs

: existing or occurring at the same time

: satisfied by the same values of the variables

simultaneous equations

simultaneously adverb

Etymology

from Latin simul "at the same time, together" and English -taneous (as in instantaneous) — related to assemble, ensemble

Last Updated: 22 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

simultaneous

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of simultaneous in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near simultaneous

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition