modern Definition
mod·ern (mäd′ərn)
adjective
- of the present or recent times; specif.,
- of or having to do with the latest styles, methods, or ideas; up-to-date
- designating or of certain contemporary trends and schools of art, music, literature, dance, etc.
- of or relating to the period of history after the Middle Ages, from c. 1450 to the present day
- designating the form of a language in its most recent stage of development
Etymology: Fr moderne < LL modernus < L modo, just now, orig. abl. of modus: see mode
noun
- a person living in modern times
- a person having modern ideas, beliefs, standards, etc.
- Printing a style of typeface characterized by heavy down strokes contrasting with narrow cross strokes
modern Related Forms
modern Synonyms
modern
modif.
Up to date
current, new, up-to-date, latest, up-to-the-minute, stylish, modish, chic, smart, conforming, swank, late, recent, of the present, prevailing, prevalent, faddish, avant-garde, present-day, advanced, modernistic, streamlined, breaking with tradition, untraditional, new-fashioned, having the new look, contemporary, in vogue, in use, in the air, common, just out, state-of-the-art, space-age, ahead of its time, postmodern, with it*, in the swim*, newfangled*, sharp*, smooth*, mod*, cool*, now*, trendy*; see also fashionable, fresh 1.Antonyms
old-fashioned*, out-of-date*, out-of-style. Having the comforts of modern life
modernistic, modernized, renovated, functional, with modern conveniences, done over, having modern improvements, strictly modern; see also convenient 1, improved 1.Antonyms
Victorian*, dilapidated*, run down. * Concerning recent times
contemporary, contemporaneous, recent, concurrent, present-day, coincident, synchronous, twentieth-century, latter-day, mechanical, of the Machine Age, automated, of modern times, modernist; see also now 1, present 1.Antonyms
old*, medieval*, primordial. See syn. study at new.new.
modern Usage Examples
Adjective modifier
- secondary: Until 1984 the Hill's main rivals were Brookdale, the former secondary modern, and posh boy's school Rodney Bennett.
- smart: Overall, the feeling is smart modern, with confidence in the kitchen and expertise in the service.
Modifies a noun
- society: The standards of decent modern society were set by the Enlightenment.
- language: In our modern American language, he might have said, " What's wrong with you, are you crazy?
- kitchen: Kitchen: Modern, very large kitchen with gorgeous granite worktops.
- world: In the modern world, Habermas argues, the public sphere has given way to advertising.
- technology: Some of the more obscure papers explore rudimentary prototypes of modern day technology.
- era: Now, in the modern day era of Betting Exchanges no-one should find it impossible to get a bet on.
Modifying Another Word
- thoroughly: The showroom looked thoroughly modern, following its renovation last year, with additional design touches now being introduced by Honda.
- relatively: The practice of having individual sponsors is relatively modern.
- surprisingly: Behind the churchyard are the town stocks; of iron rather than the usual wood, they look surprisingly modern.
- decidedly: It presents nineteenth century comic strips with decidedly modern punchlines.
- truly: Cork City, the European Capital of Culture 2005, is alive with the cultural richness of a truly modern city.
- very: It is current and very modern although respectful of the best traditions.
Used with adjective complement
- seem: When it opened in 1968, the complex seemed as modern as a jumbo jet.
- look: Behind the churchyard are the town stocks; of iron rather than the usual wood, they look surprisingly modern.
- sound: It still sounds modern, definitely a 2002 production, so to speak.
- provide: These methods have enormous potential for providing modern, caring, locally-based nurse-led abortion services for women.
- use: We carefully follow the current national guidelines for dental radiography and use modern, low radiation dose dental x-ray machines.
- make: In many ways, I think our past has made modern Germany a more thoughtful, considerate country.
Browse dictionary entries near modern
- ‹ moderator
- ‹ moderato
- ‹ moderation
- ‹ moderately
- ‹ moderate gale
- ‹ moderate breeze
- ‹ moderate
- ‹ Modena
- ‹ Modem on Hold
- ‹ modem
- modern dance ›
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- modernism ›
- modernist ›
- modernistic ›
- modernity ›
- modernize ›

