alternating current
noun
: an electric current that reverses its direction at regularly recurring intervals
—abbreviation AC
Examples of alternating current in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The inverter is bidirectional, so that alternating current produced by the e-axle under regenerative braking is turned into direct current to charge the battery.
—
Jason Barlow, WIRED, 17 Oct. 2024
The Power of Solar Energy At its core, AY’s system collects energy from the sun using solar panels, stores it in batteries, and converts it to alternating current (AC) using an inverter.
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
Central to the movie’s gathering power is its time-shifting structure, which folds the recent past into the current story like alternating currents.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2024
There is also room for greater efficiency after the electricity is generated, when power is lost as direct current (produced from the panels) is converted to alternating current (required for distribution by the electrical grid).
—Dickon Pinner, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015
See all Example Sentences for alternating current 
Jason Barlow, WIRED, 17 Oct. 2024
The Power of Solar Energy At its core, AY’s system collects energy from the sun using solar panels, stores it in batteries, and converts it to alternating current (AC) using an inverter.
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
Central to the movie’s gathering power is its time-shifting structure, which folds the recent past into the current story like alternating currents.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2024
There is also room for greater efficiency after the electricity is generated, when power is lost as direct current (produced from the panels) is converted to alternating current (required for distribution by the electrical grid).
—Dickon Pinner, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015
See all Example Sentences for alternating current
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alternating current.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near alternating current
Cite this Entry
“Alternating current.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternating%20current. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share