countercurrent

C3O1U1N1T1E1R1C3U1R1R1E1N1T1

noun

A current that flows against the prevailing one.

Similar
ripriptidetide ripcrosscurrent
OriginEnglish current ← Middle English curraunt ← Old French curant →
UncommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

nouncountercurrent (plural countercurrents)

plural countercurrents

  1. A current that flows against the prevailing one.
adjectivecountercurrent (not comparable)
  1. not comparableRunning in an opposite direction.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna stretch of turbulent water in a river or the sea caused by one current flowing into or across another current

Similar
ripriptidetide ripcrosscurrent
Broader
turbulenceturbulency

nounactions counter to the main group activity

Similar
crosscurrent
Broader
strife
Also see
crosscurrentripriptidetide rip

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Proto-Italic*komteros
  6. Proto-Italic*komterād
  7. Latincontrā
  8. Old Frenchcontre-
  9. Anglo-Normancountre-
  10. Middle Englishcounter-
  11. Englishcounter-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*ḱers-
  13. Proto-Indo-European*ḱr̥séti
  14. Proto-Italic*korsō
  15. Latincurrere
  16. Old Frenchcorre
  17. Old Frenchcurant
  18. Middle Englishcurraunt
  19. Englishcurrent
  20. Englishcountercurrent

From counter- + current.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan contracorrent
  • contracorrentcurrent that flows against the prevailing one
French contre-courant
  • contre-courantcurrent that flows against the prevailing one
Italian corrente contraria, controcorrente
  • corrente contrariacurrent that flows against the prevailing one
  • controcorrentecurrent that flows against the prevailing one
Polish przeciwprąd
  • przeciwprądcurrent that flows against the prevailing one
Portuguese contracorrente
  • contracorrentecurrent that flows against the prevailing one
Romanian contracurent
  • contracurentcurrent that flows against the prevailing one
Spanish contracorriente
  • contracorrientecurrent that flows against the prevailing one
Cite this entry
APA

countercurrent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countercurrent

MLA

“countercurrent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countercurrent. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “countercurrent,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countercurrent.

Source: countercurrent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.