concurrently

IPA/kənˈkʌrəntli/
KK[kənkˈɚəntli]IPA/kənˈkɜːrəntli/

concurrently — adverb

1. happening, running, or being done during the same period of time as something el

1.adverbC1
Definition

happening, running, or being done during the same period of time as something else, with the two activities overlapping rather than following one after another.

Example

The judge ordered that Omar serve his two sentences concurrently rather than back to back.

legal collocation: serve sentences concurrently

Rin is studying for her medical exam and working at the hospital concurrently this summer.

verb + concurrently in clause-final position

Common collocations
  • serve sentences concurrently
  • run concurrently
  • concurrently with
  • operate concurrently
  • study concurrently
Synonyms
  • simultaneously

    more general; emphasises exact same moment rather than overlapping period

  • at the same time

    neutral, everyday phrasing; works in any register

  • in parallel

    common in technical or project contexts; suggests independent tracks

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[verb] + concurrently

concurrently with + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used in legal contexts (sentences served concurrently) and project or technical contexts (tasks running in parallel). Often appears at the end of a clause or immediately before 'with + noun'.

Common Mistakes

The two films released concurrent last week.
The two films were released concurrently last week.
use the adverb form 'concurrently' to modify a verb; 'concurrent' is an adjective.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe how two or more events line up in time, but each carries a different flavour. 'Simultaneously' stresses that things happen at the exact same moment — two alarms sounding simultaneously. 'Concurrently' is broader and more formal: the activities share a period but do not need to start or end together; common in legal and academic writing ('the courses run concurrently across the semester'). 'In parallel' is preferred in engineering, project management, and computing, where it suggests independent tracks proceeding side by side. 'At the same time' is the neutral, everyday choice for ordinary conversation. 'Consecutively' is the direct opposite: one event finishes before the next begins, as in 'she gave three lectures consecutively'.

simultaneously ↗in parallel ↗at the same time ↗consecutively ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • run concurrently
  • serve concurrently
  • operate concurrently

Prepositions

  • concurrently with

Etymology

LatinMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by adding the adverb suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'concurrent', which entered English in the late 14th century from Latin 'concurrens', the present participle of 'concurrere' meaning to run together. The Latin root combines 'con-' (together) with 'currere' (to run), so something done concurrently literally 'runs together' with something else in time.