What does syncing mean?
Syncing is the activity of keeping two or more things coordinated, consistent, or current with one another. The word is especially common in technology, where files, calendars, contacts, and devices may exchange information automatically. It can also describe people coordinating their schedules or efforts: “They are syncing with each other before the meeting.” The word usually conveys efficiency and consistency rather than merely bringing two items together. A device that is syncing is actively transferring or reconciling information, while a completed sync has brought the relevant data into agreement. Because “sync” is short for “synchronize,” syncing carries the broader sense of making things happen or exist in step. It is widely used in both British and American English and has become especially familiar through smartphones, cloud storage, online accounts, and collaborative software.
verbSyncing means coordinating two or more things so that they agree, match, or remain up to date, especially when exchanging or updating information.
- To coordinate two or more things so that they agree, match, or remain up to date.
- To exchange and update information between devices, accounts, or systems.
"The app is syncing your calendar with your phone."
"The software automatically syncs your notes across all of your devices."
"They spent the morning syncing the speakers before the conference began."
Syncing keeps calendars, files, and devices in step—even when their owners are not.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does syncing come from?
The form “syncing” is the present participle of “sync,” an informal shortening of “synchronize.” “Synchronize” ultimately comes from Greek synchronos, meaning “simultaneous” or “happening at the same time,” built from elements meaning “together” and “time.” The modern technological senses developed from the general idea of placing events or systems in temporal agreement, before being applied to files, devices, and online services.
How syncing is actually used
“Syncing” is neutral and especially common in computing and everyday organizational contexts. It is used both continuously, as in “the devices are syncing,” and attributively, as in “syncing software.”
Easily confused with syncing
“Syncing” means coordinating or updating something to keep it in agreement, whereas “sinking” means moving downward or becoming submerged.