Asynchronous describes events or processes that do not occur at the same time or rate. In computing, it refers to operations that proceed independently of a main program flow, allowing tasks to run without waiting for others to complete. The term emphasizes non-simultaneity and often involves callbacks, promises, or concurrent execution. It contrasts with synchronous methods, which occur in a fixed sequence.
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"- In JavaScript, asynchronous programming uses callbacks and promises to handle operations without blocking the main thread."
"- The project progressed asynchronously, with team members contributing across different time zones."
"- We implemented asynchronous data fetching to improve UI responsiveness."
"- The clock runs asynchronously with the server time, causing occasional synchronization issues."
Asynchronous comes from the prefix a- (not, without) + syn- (together, with) from Greek syn/kinesis, combined with -chronous from Greek chronos (time). The term entered technical usage to describe processes that do not run in lockstep with a single clock. In computing, the notion evolved in the 1950s–1960s as systems needed to perform I/O, computation, and user interactions without blocking, leading to the modern distinction between asynchronous and synchronous operation. The combined form suggests not-together in time, and early programming languages adopted the concept to support parallelism and event-driven flows. First known uses appear in literature and computer science texts discussing time-sharing and multitasking systems, with increasing prevalence as networks and asynchronous I/O became standard. Over decades, the term broadened to non-computing contexts (e.g., asynchronous learning, asynchronous communication), maintaining the core idea of non-simultaneity across domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "asynchronous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "asynchronous"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as ə-SING-kruh-nəs (US) or ˌeɪ-SING-kruh-nəs (UK/AU). Break it into four syllables: a-syn-chron-ous, with stress on the second syllable. The key phonemes are the starting schwa, the bright /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and the unstressed final /nəs/. Mouth position: relaxed start for the schwa, short high-front vowel for /ɪ/, then a light /ŋ/ followed by /krən/ and a final /əs/. IPA: US əˈsɪŋkrənəs, UK ˌeɪˈsɪŋkrənəs, AU ˌæɪˈsɪŋkrənəs.
Common errors: overemphasizing the first syllable a- or misplacing stress on the third syllable (chron). Also, confusing the -chron- cluster, producing a heavy /krɒn/ instead of /krən/. Corrections: keep the primary stress on the second syllable, use a quick light /ŋ/ followed by /krən/ rather than a hard /krɒn/, and finish with a soft /əs/ rather than a ghostly /əs/ with extra vowel.
US: əˈsɪŋkrənəs with strong /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a softer /ə/ at the end. UK: ˌeɪˈsɪŋkrənəs, sometimes a reduced first vowel and tighter final /ənəs/. AU: similar to US, often with a slightly tighter vowel in the second syllable and a clipped final /əs/. Overall, rhoticity affects only the beginning stroke slightly; the main divergence is the initial vowel quality and the onset of the second syllable.
It combines a stress shift, a tricky /ŋk/ cluster, and a non-stressful ending. The -chron- segment demands a quick /ŋk/ sequence before the unstressed /rənəs/. The subtle vowel quality in the first syllable, plus the secondary stress propensity on some varieties, makes it easy to misplace emphasis or blur /krən/ with /kron/. Practicing the four-syllable rhythm and the /ŋk/ transition helps mastery.
Yes—its combination of an initial stressed second syllable and a mid- word /ŋk/ cluster followed by a light /rənəs/ ending makes it easy to misplace stress or blend /ŋkt/ if spoken quickly. Paying close attention to the /krə/ sequence and not elongating the final /əs/ will yield a cleaner pronunciation. In practice, you’ll hear listeners parse it as a four-beat word with a prominent second beat.
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