course

1 of 2

noun

1
: the act or action of moving in a path from point to point
the planets in their courses
2
: the path over which something moves or extends: such as
b(1)
: the direction of travel of a vehicle (such as a ship or airplane) usually measured as a clockwise angle from north
also : the projected path of travel
(2)
: a point of the compass
3
a
: accustomed procedure or normal action
the law taking its course
b
: a chosen manner of conducting oneself : way of acting
Our wisest course is to retreat.
c(1)
: progression through a development or period or a series of acts or events
the course of history
4
: an ordered process or succession: such as
a
: a number of lectures or other matter dealing with a subject
took a course in zoology
also : a series of such courses constituting a curriculum
a premed course
b
: a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period
5
a
: a part of a meal served at one time
the main course
b
: layer
especially : a continuous level range of brick or masonry throughout a wall
c
: the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast

course

2 of 2

verb

coursed; coursing

transitive verb

1
: to follow close upon : pursue
2
a
: to hunt or pursue (game) with hounds
b
: to cause (dogs) to run (as after game)
3
: to run or move swiftly through or over : traverse
Jets coursed the area daily.

intransitive verb

: to run or pass rapidly along or as if along an indicated path
blood coursing through the veins
Phrases
in due course
: after a normal passage of time : in the expected or allotted time
His discoveries led in due course to new forms of treatment.
of course
1
: following the ordinary way or procedure
will be done as a matter of course
2
: as might be expected
Of course we will go.

Examples of course in a Sentence

Noun the course of a river The pilot brought the plane back on course. The ship was blown off course by a storm. She's taking a chemistry course this semester. Students earn the degree after a two-year course of study. There is no cure, but the treatment will slow the course of the disease. Verb the blood coursing through my veins Tears were coursing down his cheeks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2024 For the 2024 offering — premiering on PEOPLE above — the team tackled a slew of favorite films including There's Something About Mary, Basic Instinct, A Few Good Men, The Princess Bride, Dirty Dancing and, of course, 2023's blockbuster Barbie. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 The beloved couple introduced modern farmhouse decor to millions of homeowners who took to heart Joanna’s love of moody color paired with neutrals, barn doors, pale wood, and, of course, shiplap. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 All that bling comes at a cost, of course, with the ring expected to fetch between $700,000 and $1 million at the auction. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 Where the wealthy are moving Some countries are, of course, more desirable than others. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Soon, Wallis was managing essential Warner films such as Little Caesar (1931), The Petrified Forest (1936), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1937), Dark Victory (1939), Sergeant York (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), and, of course, Casablanca (1942). Chris Yogerst, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 Not that gendered ageism is exclusive to my professional worlds, of course. Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 6 Mar. 2024 But of course, no one does bottle episodes as Community does. Chancellor Agard, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
The metaphysical synergy of music and family also courses through the Barretts. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2024 The emergence of a confidential FBI informant coursed through right-wing media, where talking heads and outlets spotlighted the claims as damning evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024 The spirit of Lester Bangs was coursing through the site, which became known for ridiculously purple prose and an electric verbosity that could thrill or grate, depending on the reader. Hazlitt, 24 Jan. 2024 Carlos DeFord Bailey lights up the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, a testament to the musical and cultural legacy coursing through his veins. David Begnaud, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2024 Gushing rivers carried mud, rocks and household objects downhill as floodwaters coursed through Studio City, an area on the back side of the Hollywood Hills. John Antczak, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2024 Through the years, the group became increasingly inspired by anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments coursing through the Middle East. Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2024 Her body grows weaker and weaker as the poison courses through her little fish body. Kathryn Kvas, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2023 Anaheim Union High School District in Orange County, California, is offering for the first time this fall an ethnic studies course focusing on the history and experiences of Korean Americans. Brahmjot Kaur, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'course.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cours, borrowed from Anglo-French cours, curs, going back to Latin cursus "action of running, charge, movement along a path, progress," from currere "to run, flow" + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at current entry 1

Note: As pointed out by Michiel de Vaan (Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Leiden, 2008), the expected outcome of the verbal adjective in *-to- and the verbal noun in *-tū- would be *kostus < *korstus < *kr̥s-to-, kr̥s-tū-, from the verbal base *kr̥s- (> currere). The attested form cursus for both the past participle and verbal noun reflects remodeling on the pattern of stems ending in a dental (as morsus from mordere "to bite," versus from vertere "to turn"). As generally in Latin, the verbal noun, where full grade of the root would be expected, has been supplanted by zero grade of the verbal adjective.

Verb

Middle English coursen "to pursue," derivative of cours course entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of course was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near course

Cite this Entry

“Course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/course. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

course

1 of 2 noun
ˈkō(ə)rs How to pronounce course (audio)
ˈkȯ(ə)rs
1
: the act or action of moving in a path from point to point
the planets in their courses
2
: the direction or route of motion or progress
the course of a river
a ship's course
3
: land laid out for golf
4
a
: normal or accustomed process or procedure
the disease ran its course
b
: manner of proceeding : conduct
a wise course
c
: progression through a period of time or a series of acts or events
was built in the course of a year
5
a
: an ordered process or series
b
: a series of classes in a subject
also : a group of such courses
a four-year course in chemistry
6
: a part of a meal served at one time
had salad for the first course
7
: a layer of brick or other building material in a wall

course

2 of 2 verb
coursed; coursing
1
: to run through or over
buffalo coursed the plains
2
: to move rapidly : race
blood coursing through the veins
Etymology

Noun

Middle English cours, course "action of moving in a certain path, path of movement, progress," from early French curs, course (same meaning), derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to corridor, current

Medical Definition

1
: the series of events or stages comprising a natural process
the course of a disease
2
: a series of doses or medications administered over a designated period
a course of three doses daily for five days

More from Merriam-Webster on course

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