sync
HighInformal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
To cause two or more things to occur, operate, or be updated at the same time and rate.
A state of harmony, agreement, or simultaneous operation; to match or coordinate.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A widely-used clipping of 'synchronize' or 'synchronization'. Predominantly used in computing, media, and general planning. Can function as a verb, noun, or adjective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use 'sync' extensively, especially in technical contexts. In formal writing, British English may slightly prefer the full forms 'synchronise' and 'synchronisation'.
Connotations
Primarily technical and informal, associated with efficiency and modern coordination.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in tech and business contexts globally. Slightly more frequent in American English colloquially.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sync (sth) with sthsync sth to sthsync (up) (with sb/sth)sth syncs automaticallyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in/out of sync (with sb/sth)”
- “sync up (with sb)”
- “get your ducks in a row (conceptually related)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We need to sync our calendars before the quarterly review.' Used for coordinating meetings, data, and strategies.
Academic
'The study aimed to sync experimental data from multiple sensors.' Used in scientific and technical reports.
Everyday
'Let me sync my phone to the car's Bluetooth.' Common for personal devices and planning.
Technical
'The API allows applications to sync real-time data with the central server.' Core term in computing and networking.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The software will sync your contacts across all your devices.
- We should sync our diaries next week.
American English
- Make sure your phone syncs with the cloud backup.
- Let's sync up on the project status tomorrow.
adverb
British English
- The devices are now running sync.
American English
- The files update sync across all platforms.
adjective
British English
- I prefer a sync service that works offline.
- They had a perfectly sync swim routine.
American English
- The sync feature is turned on by default.
- We're not on a sync schedule yet.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My watch syncs with my phone.
- The movie was out of sync with the sound.
- We need to sync our calendars for the meeting.
- The data on my laptop is not in sync with the tablet.
- The team uses a shared platform to sync all project updates in real time.
- Her movements were perfectly in sync with the music.
- The new protocol ensures that distributed databases remain in sync without manual intervention.
- Their political strategies fell out of sync after the policy shift.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SINK' – when things are in perfect SYNC, they 'sink' together into the same rhythm.
Conceptual Metaphor
CALENDARS/DEVICES ARE ENTITIES THAT CAN MOVE IN TIME (We bring them into alignment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'синхронизировать' in every informal context; in casual English, 'sync' is sufficient and more natural. Do not confuse with 'sink' (тонуть) in pronunciation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'synchronize' in overly casual tech talk where 'sync' is idiomatic. Spelling as 'synch' (less common variant). Incorrectly using as a past tense: 'synced' is correct, not 'synchronised' in informal writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sync' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a fully standard word, recognised in dictionaries as a short form of 'synchronise/ synchronisation', especially in technical and informal contexts.
'Synced' is the standard past tense and past participle in modern usage (e.g., 'I synced my files').
Yes, commonly. For example, 'The data is in sync' or 'We did a quick sync before the meeting'.
Meaning is identical. 'Sync' is the clipped, informal/technical form. 'Synchronise' is the full, often more formal, term.
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