simultaneous

adjective

si·​mul·​ta·​neous ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs 

-nyəs,

 also  ˌsi-

1

: existing or occurring at the same time : exactly coincident

2

: 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

Synonyms

• coetaneous
• coeval
• coexistent
• coexisting
• coextensive
• coincident
• coincidental
• concurrent
• contemporaneous
• contemporary
• coterminous
• synchronic
• synchronous

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

The Russian assault may have been an attempt to spoil a simultaneous Ukrainian assault that launched just a few miles to the east around the same time. —David Axe, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

At the heart of it lies a paradox of human nature: the simultaneous craving for freedom and the comfort of authority. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

The five living presidents are making a rare simultaneous appearance on Thursday at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. —Amanda Holpuch, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Fire hydrants running out of water — that certainly feels like a late-season writers room twist (aging infrastructure, dry reservoirs and too much simultaneous demand are cited as possible reasons for this). —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2025

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

Kids Definition

simultaneous

adjective

si·​mul·​ta·​neous ˌsī-məl-ˈtā-nē-əs 

-nyəs

1

: existing or occurring at the same time

2

: 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