Asynchronous
ay-SING-kruh-nuhs
/eɪˈsɪŋkrənəs/
Not existing or occurring at the same time; not operating or progressing in unison.
Emphasizes independence of timing, allowing for flexibility and non-real-time interactions.
The story behind the word. The word 'asynchronous' is built upon 'synchronous' with the addition of the Greek prefix 'a-', meaning 'not' or 'without'. So, if 'synchronous' means 'together in time', then 'asynchronous' means 'not together in time' or 'without simultaneous timing'. It describes processes that don't rely on a shared clock or immediate response.
Word relationships
- Independent: Not controlled by or dependent on another.
- Uncoordinated: Not arranged or organized to work together effectively.
- Non-simultaneous: Simply not happening at the same time, without implying a specific design.
- Synchronous: Existing or occurring at the same time; operating or progressing in unison.
- Simultaneous: Occurring at the same time.
Commonly confused with
- Random: 'Asynchronous' means not synchronized, but may still follow a pattern; 'random' implies no pattern or predictability.
Word family
- asynchronicity (noun): The state of being asynchronous.
Collocations
- asynchronous communication
- asynchronous learning
- asynchronous operations
- asynchronous data transfer
Example sentences
- "Email is an `asynchronous` form of communication, allowing recipients to respond at their convenience." In digital communication.
- "Many online courses offer `asynchronous` modules that students can complete on their own schedule." In online learning.
- "`Asynchronous` operations allow a program to continue running other tasks while waiting for a long process to complete." In computer programming.
Memory hook
Remember `a-` means 'not'. So, `a-synchronous` means `not together in time`. Not together in time
When not to use
Do not use 'asynchronous' if events must happen at the same time or in a strict sequence; use 'random' if there's no pattern at all.
Fun facts
- The development of asynchronous communication methods like email was crucial for the early internet, as real-time connections were often unreliable.
- Many modern web applications use asynchronous JavaScript to load content without refreshing the entire page.
Related words
Explore more words
simultaneous, concurrent, asymmetric, contemporary, unison, unilateral
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