alternating current
noun
: an electric current that reverses its direction at regularly recurring intervals
—abbreviation AC
Examples of alternating current in a Sentence
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The rectifier converts the power from alternating current (A.C.), used to transmit power over long distances, to direct current (D.C.), which the trains require.
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New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
When the battery is fully charged, a microcontroller—an electronic device programmed to control other devices—triggers an inverter that converts the battery’s direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
PSTs adjust power flow by creating an AC waveform whose alternating voltage leads or lags its alternating current.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Dec. 2025
The world-famous physicist Albert Einstein and Charles Steinmetz, who developed the alternating current vital to machines that run on electricity, also expressed a fondness for the socialist vision.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alternating current
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New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
When the battery is fully charged, a microcontroller—an electronic device programmed to control other devices—triggers an inverter that converts the battery’s direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power.
—Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
PSTs adjust power flow by creating an AC waveform whose alternating voltage leads or lags its alternating current.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Dec. 2025
The world-famous physicist Albert Einstein and Charles Steinmetz, who developed the alternating current vital to machines that run on electricity, also expressed a fondness for the socialist vision.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alternating current
Cite this Entry
“Alternating current.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternating%20current. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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