INDEX:
1. modern machines/buildings/methods
2. modern art/literature/music/fashion
3. modern ideas/ways of thinking
4. to make something more modern
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ OLD-FASHIONED
using the newest technology or methods : ↑ ADVANCED
see also
↑ NEW
↑ FASHIONABLE/NOT FASHIONABLE
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1. modern machines/buildings/methods
▷ modern /ˈmɒdnǁˈmɑːdərn/ [adjective]
using new methods, designs, or equipment :
▪ Seattle has a very modern public transportation system.
▪ The company occupies a bright, modern office building in the heart of the city.
▪ Many criticisms have been made of modern farming methods.
▪ the horrors of modern warfare
▷ the latest /ðə ˈleɪtə̇st/ [adjective only before noun]
the latest machines, computers, and methods are the newest and best ones that are available :
▪ The car is equipped with all the latest gadgets.
▪ The latest model can print 15 pages every minute.
the latest in something
the newest type of something
▪ You’ll have a chance to try out the latest in kitchen equipment.
the very latest
▪ The operation will be performed using the very latest microsurgery techniques.
▷ up-to-date /ˌʌp tə ˈdeɪt◂/ [adjective]
up-to-date equipment, machines, or methods are very modern, and much better than the ones that many other people or organizations are still using :
▪ The hospital has the most up-to-date equipment in Europe.
▪ up-to-date training methods
▷ futuristic /ˌfjuːtʃəˈrɪstɪk◂/ [adjective]
something that is futuristic seems typical of things that will exist in the future, and often seems very exciting and unusual :
▪ The futuristic sports stadium is the pride of the city.
▪ The car, with its sleek futuristic styling, certainly looks impressive.
▷ state of the art /ˌsteɪt əv ði ˈɑːʳt◂/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about machines, buildings etc that use the most modern designs, methods, technology etc :
▪ The company recently moved to their new state-of-the-art building in central London.
▪ Using state-of-the-art technology, scientists are able to pinpoint the exact age of archaeological finds.
▪ Her latest indulgence is a luxury state-of-the-art yacht that she keeps at St Tropez.
2. modern art/literature/music/fashion
▷ modern /ˈmɒdnǁˈmɑːdərn/ [adjective]
modern art, literature, music etc uses styles that have been developed very recently and are deliberately different from traditional ones :
▪ I like both modern dance and classical ballet.
▪ Your work was my first route into an understanding of modern art.
▷ contemporary /kənˈtemp ə rəri, -p ə riǁ-pəreri/ [adjective only before noun]
contemporary art, music, literature etc was produced or written recently :
▪ Composers like Philip Glass have made contemporary music more popular.
▪ I’m not very impressed by the works of many contemporary artists.
▷ the latest /ðə ˈleɪtə̇st/ [adjective only before noun]
the latest fashion, style, design etc is the one that is the most modern and the most fashionable :
the latest fashion
▪ She assured me that big sweaters were the latest fashion.
the latest in something
the most fashionable type of something
▪ They stock the latest in designer footwear.
▷ avant-garde /ˌævɔːŋˈgɑːʳd◂ǁ ˌævɑːŋ-/ [adjective]
avant-garde art, music, literature etc is extremely modern and often strange or hard to understand because it is very different from previous styles :
▪ Although she likes avant-garde music, Lydia also plays classical guitar and piano.
▪ His paintings are rather too avant-garde for my tastes.
▪ an exhibition of work by avant-garde artists and sculptors
3. modern ideas/ways of thinking
▷ modern /ˈmɒdnǁˈmɑːdərn/ [adjective]
having new ideas or attitudes, rather than traditional or old-fashioned ones :
▪ They’re a very modern couple -- he stays at home with the kids and she goes out to work.
▪ The school is very modern in its approach to sex education.
▷ progressive /prəˈgresɪv/ [adjective]
using new methods to educate or bring up children, deal with social problems etc, especially when these methods are less strict than traditional ones :
▪ She went to a progressive private school where the pupils could choose which lessons to attend.
▪ the government’s progressive policies for dealing with inner city problems
▷ forward-looking /ˈfɔːʳwəʳd lʊkɪŋ/ [adjective]
willing to use new and recently developed methods and ideas :
▪ We like to think we’re a forward-looking company that isn’t afraid to use new ideas.
▪ We need more forward-looking political thinking.
▷ go-ahead /ˈgəʊ əˌhed/ [adjective only before noun] British
always keen to use modern ideas and methods because you want to be successful :
▪ Fortuna is a young, go-ahead computer company based in Düsseldorf.
▷ move/change with the times /ˌmuːv, ˌtʃeɪndʒ wɪð ðə ˈtaɪmz/ [verb phrase]
to change your way of living or working so that you are using modern ideas, methods etc, even though you may not want to :
▪ I’m not keen on having a mobile phone, but I suppose we must all move with the times.
▪ This is a town that has changed with the times and now provides every vacation facility you could wish for.
4. to make something more modern
▷ update /ˌʌpˈdeɪt/ [transitive verb]
to improve something, so that it includes the most modern equipment, methods, or information :
▪ The school has just updated all its computer equipment.
▪ Nursing staff were sent on training courses to update their skills.
▷ modernize also modernise British /ˈmɒdənaɪzǁˈmɑːdər-/ [transitive verb]
to make big changes to a place or organization, by putting in modern equipment or modern systems, and getting rid of old ones :
▪ It was an old farmhouse that had been modernized by the previous owner.
▪ Our aim was to modernize the health service, and we succeeded.
▷ bring something up to date /ˌbrɪŋ something ʌp tə ˈdeɪt/ [verb phrase]
to get rid of any old-fashioned details or features that something has and add the newest ones that are available :
▪ The system needs bringing up to date.
▪ All the history textbooks we use have been revised and brought up to date.