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Joe's Cafe, 24/7 pit stop for ESL learners and teachers | August 2009
Egg's off, bacon's off, bread's off, tea's off. English is on though.

Current versus contemporary

These two words are very similar some of the time, but can also be very different.

current is an adjective that means “belonging to the present time, happening now”, for example:

  • I like to follow current events.
  • My current job will end next year.

It also means “in common or general use”:

  • Some English words are no longer current.

contemporary is an adjective that means “living or occurring at the same time”:

  • This 1812 battle scene was painted by a contemporary artist. (In other words, the artist lived at the same time as the battle.)

It also has a meaning similar to “current” (belonging to the present time) but is used in different contexts:

  • Doctors say that obesity is a serious problem in our contemporary society.
  • Do you like contemporary art?

contemporary is also a noun that means “a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another”:

  • He was a contemporary of Shakespeare.
  • I still keep in touch with my contemporaries at school.
Joe | Sunday, August 30th, 2009 | Filed under Vocabulary

29 Responses to “Current versus contemporary”

  1. guswarni anwar says:
    31st August 2009 at 1:30 pm

    thanks..

  2. Carlos says:
    31st August 2009 at 7:43 pm

    Very useful!!! Thanks.-

  3. Margaret Pogonowski says:
    5th September 2009 at 6:24 pm

    now it’s clear ! Thanks

  4. hamidrezashababi says:
    9th September 2009 at 6:37 pm

    very useful,pleas continue…

  5. Nataliya Dubrava says:
    9th September 2009 at 7:16 pm

    I was wondering what is the meaning of the word “contemporary” and couldn’t find right explanation.Many Russian in America highly appreciate your work,Josef!Thanks a lot!

  6. Helen says:
    10th September 2009 at 4:44 am

    I think it’ll be very useful for my students.

  7. Lalita JS says:
    10th September 2009 at 5:37 am

    Good explanation. I often recommend this web site to my students.

  8. SalihEmrre says:
    10th September 2009 at 8:22 am

    thank you very much for this good explanation, it is very useful.

  9. kamal says:
    10th September 2009 at 5:34 pm

    thank you so much mr josef!
    No doubt this is so interesting to know about!

  10. zehra(turkey) says:
    10th September 2009 at 9:06 pm

    thank;)

  11. Boumahdi says:
    11th September 2009 at 10:16 am

    that’s really very interesting. Thanks for the effort. Hope to continue

  12. Iraivasan says:
    11th September 2009 at 11:26 am

    It will be very helpful to everybody who is trying to communicate in english. thank you so much.

  13. Natalia says:
    11th September 2009 at 4:15 pm

    Thenks a lot for your work. Very useful information.

  14. jintana says:
    12th September 2009 at 2:46 am

    Thank you so much. Your explanation is useful.

  15. jwanesu says:
    12th September 2009 at 9:17 am

    good expanation

  16. jwanesu says:
    12th September 2009 at 9:18 am

    mean it you wonderfully set the explanation

  17. Truc says:
    13th September 2009 at 2:45 pm

    Woa,it’s too difficult to differentiate.I mean their meaning and issues.I’ll try to get it.Thanks for your explanation.Have a nice day!

  18. kamel says:
    17th September 2009 at 9:06 am

    Your effort is highly appreciated. Thank you my darling.

  19. abbas says:
    21st September 2009 at 5:52 am

    Iam very grateful for your explanation and I belive is very useful for me please be so kind and continue.

    best regards.
    abbas

  20. Asep Muhajir says:
    2nd October 2009 at 8:32 am

    Very useful! That gives me a concise explanation on the differences of these two words. Appreciate it.

  21. Asep Muhajir says:
    2nd October 2009 at 8:34 am

    Well, forget what I said earlier, as I still seem to find it confusing to differentiate the following differences, as you mentioned.

    “It also has a meaning similar to “current” (belonging to the present time) but is used in DIFFERENT contexts:”.

    Could you please clarify on this?

    Thank you in advance.

  22. Gustavo Bernuy says:
    9th October 2009 at 12:39 am

    I am 100% sure that in this page I will learn more the exactly meaning of some words

  23. Nataly says:
    10th October 2009 at 9:51 pm

    Thank you very much indeed for your clear explanation.From now on I will be able to use your tips for my students. I hope to learn smth. more.!!!!!!!

  24. lamis says:
    20th October 2009 at 7:19 am

    thank you & i like your teaching way thank u again

  25. Linda k hollywood says:
    31st October 2009 at 9:09 am

    Very interesting verb. I really like it.
    When contemporary is use in reference to something
    in the past its meaning is not always clear.

    Have a nice day !
    Linda Kosolsak

  26. laleh amirkhosravi says:
    18th November 2009 at 6:25 am

    this was the first time using english club web site!I’m raelly wonderded, so let me know how can i help my students to use this web site for improving their english knowledge???
    thanks alot

  27. Linda k hollywood says:
    26th December 2009 at 4:12 am

    Verb contemporary and versus is meaning at the same
    time or meanwhile or simultaneous.

    Happy Holiday!
    Linda k

  28. anjibabu says:
    7th February 2010 at 4:42 pm

    its give good knowledge. i understood much more. feel very happy.
    with Regards…
    anji babu

  29. tee says:
    27th September 2011 at 5:46 am

    great site

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