Learn English – Difference between “Simultaneously”, “Concurrently”, and “At the same time”

differenceword-meaningword-usage

According to Lexico, the word simultaneously means "At the same time".

And the word concurrently means "Existing, happening, or done at the same time".

And the word (phrase?) at the same time means "Simultaneously".

So then how do you use these words differently? I feel that concurrently is slightly different than the others, but I can't find any difference between At the same time and Simultaneously, even the dictionary says it's same. Still, I often see they're used differently:

  • It was simultaneously frightening and annoying.
  • He was given two prison sentences, to run concurrently.
  • He looked hurt and angry at the same time.

I think the first one and third one is interchangeable if we change the order of some words, but I don't think second one is interchangeable(But I don't know why, I just feel that it isn't).

Best Answer

Concurrently refers to coincident or overlapping spans of time, as in the example of the two prison sentences.

Simultaneously can refer to a single moment in time.

The phrase at the same time is a more general phrase that describes both of the other two terms.

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