Meaning & use
concurring
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“concurring” is a form of “concur”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Agreeing with a view, decision or statement made by someone else.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a concurring voice, a concurring view.
Patterns
- a concurring view
- a concurring vote
Several concurring voices in the audience supported the speaker.
Her concurring view helped the committee reach a decision.
The report received a concurring statement from three independent experts.
adjectivebefore a nounlegalspecialist
Describes a written opinion by a judge who agrees with the court's decision but for different reasons.
Grammar: Used in the phrase concurring opinion.
Patterns
- a concurring opinion
The judge wrote a concurring opinion explaining her own reasoning.
A concurring opinion does not change the ruling but shows a different view of the law.
Two judges filed concurring opinions in the case.
verbintransitiveformal
Present participle of concur: agreeing, or happening at the same time.
Grammar: No object; often followed by with: concurring with the committee.
Patterns
- concurring with someone
- concurring in something
The second doctor, concurring with the first, advised rest.
Several witnesses were concurring in their accounts of the event.
Concurring factors led to the failure of the bridge.
Word forms
| base form | concur |
|---|---|
| third person singular | concurs |
| past tense | concurred |
Common combinations
- concurring opinion
- The judge wrote a concurring opinion in the case.
- concurring with
- The committee voted, concurring with the earlier decision.
- concurring vote
- A concurring vote from the chair settled the matter.
- concurring evidence
- Concurring evidence from two witnesses strengthened the case.
- concurring view
- A concurring view from experts supported the plan.
Synonyms and how they differ
- agreeing
- This is the everyday word, whereas concurring is formal and typical of meetings, law and academic writing.
- consenting
- This stresses giving permission, while concurring stresses sharing the same opinion.
- corroborating
- This means supporting a claim with evidence, while concurring simply means sharing the view.
- assenting
- This is formal and means saying yes to a proposal, whereas concurring usually means holding the same opinion.
Opposites
Word family
- concur verb
- to agree
- concurrence noun
- agreement
- concurrent adjective
- happening at the same time
- concurrently adverb
- at the same time
Commonly confused: concurring or occurring? concurring or concurrent?
concurring vs occurring
Occurring means happening, while concurring means agreeing; they look alike but are not related in meaning.
concurring vs concurrent
Concurrent means happening at the same time, whereas concurring means agreeing.
Practice
The judge wrote a ___ opinion: she supported the verdict but disagreed with the court's reasoning.
Choose one answer.
A concurring opinion agrees with the result for different reasons. A dissenting opinion disagrees with the result, while occurring and preceding do not describe legal opinions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “concurring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.