contemporary
gb/kəntˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi/ us/kəntˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi/
B1
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Happening or existing now
Happening or existing now or in recent times.
Usage pattern:
[something] is contemporary
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'contemporary' with 'temporary'; 'contemporary' means modern or current, not short-term.
Synonyms
modern (Often suggests current style or technology; may carry a more positive or fashionable connotation.)
|
current (Focuses on being up-to-date or happening now, without stylistic implications.)
Antonyms
traditional (Refers to styles, ideas, or practices from the past that are maintained rather than modernized.)
Collocations
contemporary art
|contemporary society
|contemporary culture
|contemporary music
Themes
time
|culture
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The exhibition features contemporary art from around the world.
- Contemporary society faces many complex challenges.
- Her style is very contemporary, mixing minimalism with bold colors.
- This novel offers a contemporary perspective on family life.
Learner examples
- We saw a show of contemporary paintings.
- He likes contemporary music.
- This building has a contemporary design.
- The book talks about contemporary life.
adjective
B2
relation
2
Existing at the same time
Happening or living at the same time as another thing or person.
Usage pattern:
[something] is contemporary with [something else]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with 'modern', but here it refers to two things happening in the same period, not necessarily now.
Synonyms
coexistent (Technical term meaning existing at the same time; less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
nonconcurrent (Not occurring at the same time.)
Collocations
contemporary with
|contemporary accounts
|contemporary records
Themes
time
|history
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Shakespeare was a contemporary of Cervantes.
- These events were contemporary with the early years of the republic.
- Contemporary records show that the city was thriving in the 18th century.
Learner examples
- Einstein was a contemporary of Picasso.
- This building is contemporary with that one.
- She was a contemporary of my grandfather.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Person from the same time period
A person who lives at the same time as someone else.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'contemporary' as a noun with its adjective form; here it specifically means a person from the same time period.
Synonyms
peer (Can mean someone of the same age or status, not necessarily from the exact same historical period.)
Antonyms
predecessor (Someone who lived before another person in time or held a position earlier.)
Collocations
a contemporary of [someone]
|famous contemporaries
Themes
time
|people
|relationships
Examples
- Mozart and Beethoven were contemporaries.
- Many of his contemporaries admired his work.
- She was a contemporary of several famous poets.
Learner examples
- Shakespeare and Cervantes were contemporaries.
- He was a contemporary of my father.
- Einstein and Curie were contemporaries.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contemporary
IPA
GB/kəntˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi/
US/kəntˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
con - tem - por - ary (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tem)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: contemporary
Noun
- Base: contemporary
- Plural: contemporaries
Word family
Forms
contemporaries
noun
Advanced or less common
contemporaneous
adjective
Expressions
contemporary art
1/kəntˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi ˈɑɹt/
fixed phrase
Art created in recent times
Art made by artists working today or in recent years.
Examples
- The museum specializes in contemporary art from Asia.
- She collects contemporary art for her gallery.
contemporary dance
1/kəntˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi dˈæns/
fixed phrase
Modern expressive dance style
A style of dance that is modern and often mixes different dance forms.
Examples
- He is studying contemporary dance at the academy.
- Contemporary dance often combines ballet and modern techniques.
contemporary society
1/kəntˈɛmpɚˌɛɹi səsˈaɪəti/
fixed phrase
Modern-day society
The people and culture that exist today.
Examples
- Contemporary society faces challenges like climate change.
- Technology plays a big role in contemporary society.