INDEX:
1. now, at this time
2. now, not in the past
3. until now
4. existing, happening, or relating to now
5. happening now, but likely to change
6. when something does not happen now
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ THEN (2)
see also
↑ MODERN
↑ DURING
↑ TIME
↑ FUTURE
↑ PAST
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1. now, at this time
▷ now /naʊ/ [adverb]
at this moment or at this time :
▪ If we leave now we’ll be there before dark.
▪ It’s not raining now, but they said it might rain later.
▪ He used to coach high school basketball but now he’s a realtor.
from now on
starting from now
▪ Students are to be in their seats by 8:00 from now on.
▪ From now on, the U.S. government will rely on a new method to measure economic growth.
▷ already /ɔːlˈredi/ [adverb]
if something is already happening or already true, it began to happen or be true before now :
▪ He’s only three and he’s already reading.
▪ ‘Should I tell Kay?’ ‘She already knows.’
▪ The show has already started.
▪ Don’t buy any more toys for the kids -- they’ve got plenty already.
▪ Was the apartment empty when you moved in or was it already furnished?
▷ currently /ˈkʌrəntliǁˈkɜːr-/ [adverb]
now - use this when you are describing what the situation is at this time :
▪ The firm currently employs 113 people.
▪ Currently, the most a senior nurse can earn is £16,000.
▪ Ms. Kelly is currently assisting another customer. May I help you?
▷ at the moment/presently /ət ðə ˈməʊmənt, ˈpres ə ntli/ [adverb]
now - use this especially to say that something is happening now but you do not expect it to continue for a long time :
▪ I’m working in a restaurant at the moment.
▪ Miss Hellman is away from her desk at the moment - can I have her call you back?
▪ The official currency is the crown, presently about 30 to the dollar.
▷ at present/at the present time /ət ˈprez ə nt, ət ðə ˌprez ə nt ˈtaɪm/ [adverb] formal
if something is true at present or at the present time, it is true now but you do not expect it to be permanent :
▪ The money available for public libraries will be less in future than at present.
▪ We do not envisage any changes in the tax structure at the present time.
▷ right now /ˌraɪt ˈnaʊ/ [adverb] spoken
at this moment or at this time :
▪ I need a new car but right now I can’t afford one.
▪ She’s in Amsterdam right now but she should be in Paris by tomorrow night.
▷ just now /ˌdʒʌst ˈnaʊ/ [adverb] British spoken
at this exact moment - use this especially to say that you cannot do something immediately :
▪ Sorry, I’m busy just now - can I call you later?
▷ at this time /ət ˌðɪs ˈtaɪm/ [adverb] American
at this particular time :
▪ I have no further questions at this time, your honor.
▪ ‘Do you have any health insurance?’ ‘Not at this time.’
at this time of day/night/year etc
▪ What are you doing out at this time of night?
▪ Gas prices always go up at this time of year.
2. now, not in the past
▷ now /naʊ/ [adverb]
use this when you are comparing the present situation with what happened in the past :
▪ We used to be good friends but I don’t see very much of her now.
▪ Julie has moved to a new school and she’s much happier now.
▷ nowadays/these days /ˈnaʊədeɪz, ˈðiːz ˌdeɪz/ [adverb]
use this when you are describing how life is different now from the way it was in the past. These days is more common in spoken English :
▪ It seems you’re not allowed to smoke anywhere nowadays.
▪ Children can’t play in the street these days - the traffic’s too bad.
▪ Nowadays, you hardly ever seen anyone wearing a tie to work.
▷ today /təˈdeɪ/ [adverb]
at the present time, especially when compared with the past :
▪ Today, only a few of these beautiful animals survive.
▪ Couples today are much more likely to marry in their 30s.
▪ The cost to install solar panels has dropped from $20 a watt in 1980 to as little as $5 today.
▷ in this day and age /ɪn ˈðɪs deɪ ənd ˌeɪdʒ/ [adverb]
use this to show that you are surprised and shocked that something still happens now :
▪ It’s not right, in this day and age, that people all over the world are still starving.
▪ It’s amazing that you can still find a house for under $100,000 in this day and age.
3. until now
▷ so far /ˌsəʊ ˈfɑːʳ/ [adverb]
until now - use this when you are talking about a situation that will continue or develop after this time :
▪ There haven’t been any problems so far.
▪ This is the hottest day we’ve had so far this summer.
▪ We’ve raised twelve thousand dollars so far, and we expect to reach our goal by the end of next week.
▷ still /stɪl/ [adverb]
use this to say that a situation which started in the past continues to exist now, especially when this is surprising :
▪ He’s been studying French for five years, and still can’t speak the language.
▪ Are you still going out with that guy you met at Heather’s party?
▷ yet /jet/ [adverb]
use this in questions or negative statements, to talk or ask about things that you expected to happen before now :
▪ Has the new washing machine arrived yet?
▪ I haven’t been to the new exhibit yet, but I hope to this weekend.
▪ ‘Have you finished your homework?’ ‘Not yet.’
▷ up to now/until now /ˌʌp tə ˈnaʊ, ənˌtɪl ˈnaʊ/ [adverb]
use this about a situation which has existed until now, but which has started to change or will change in the future :
▪ He hasn’t gotten much time off from work up to now, so he’s really looking forward to his vacation.
▪ Until now, there has been no effective treatment for this disease.
▷ up to the present day/until the present day /ˌʌp tə ðə ˌprez ə nt ˈdeɪ, ənˌtɪl ðə ˌprez ə nt ˈdeɪ/ [adverb]
from a time in the past until modern times :
▪ These two companies have dominated the industry from the end of World War II until the present day.
▪ The beauty of Yosemite has inspired artists from Bierstadt’s time right up to the present day.
4. existing, happening, or relating to now
▷ present /ˈprez ə nt/ [adjective only before noun]
the present situation is the one that exists now; your present job, address etc is the one that you have now :
▪ Arnaud lived in Los Angeles before moving to his present home in New York.
▪ He warned that the present situation could get much worse.
▷ existing /ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about things or situations that exist now, when you think they may be changed in the future :
▪ The existing building is too small, and there are plans to replace it within the next five years.
▪ Many people feel that the existing law discriminates against women.
▷ current /ˈkʌrəntǁˈkɜːr-/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about a situation or activity which is happening now, but which is not expected to continue for a long time :
▪ In the current economic situation, switching careers may not be such a good idea.
▪ Coca-Cola’s current advertising campaign
current level/rate/price
▪ The aim is to reduce current pollution levels in the Black Sea.
▪ According to one economist, at the current growth rate, China will have the largest economy in the world by 2030.
▷ today’s/of today /təˈdeɪz, əv təˈdeɪ/ [adjective]
use this about social, economic, or political conditions and attitudes that exist now, when you are comparing them with those that existed in the past :
▪ The first computers were extremely slow by today’s standards.
▪ The teenagers of today have a different attitude to sex.
▷ modern-day/present-day /ˈmɒdn deɪǁˈmɑːdərn-, ˈprez ə nt deɪ/ [adjective only before noun]
a present-day situation, fact, idea etc is one that exists now rather than in the past :
▪ Modern-day equipment has made mining much safer than it was.
▪ There is no modern-day racing driver who could be compared with Fangio.
▪ Prussia reached its zenith in 1795, encompassing most of northern Germany and present-day Poland.
▷ modern /ˈmɒdnǁˈmɑːdərn/ [adjective only before noun]
belonging to the present time or most recent time and not to the past :
▪ I don’t like modern architecture at all.
▪ The pyramids are a remarkable piece of engineering, even judged by modern standards.
▪ The most compelling work in the modern British theater is being created in the smaller and non-profit theaters.
▷ contemporary /kənˈtemp ə rəri, -p ə riǁ-pəreri/ [adjective only before noun]
contemporary art, writing, thought, society etc is the type that exists, is accepted, or belongs to, the present time :
▪ Contemporary Indian cinema has its roots in folk culture.
▪ the declining importance of religion in contemporary societies
▷ topical /ˈtɒpɪk ə lǁˈtɑː-/ [adjective]
a story, subject, problem etc that is topical is interesting because it deals with something that is important at the moment :
▪ It’s an old story but it has a topical message.
▪ In the 1970s, he recorded topical songs about Watergate and the Vietnam War.
▪ The editor thinks that if an article isn’t topical it isn’t worth publishing.
▷ latter-day /ˈlætəʳ deɔ/ [adjective only before noun]
someone who exists now and is a very similar type of person as someone who existed in the past :
▪ Romer portrayed himself as a latter-day Robin Hood who took money and gave it to the underprivileged.
5. happening now, but likely to change
▷ for now/for the time being /fəʳ ˈnaʊ, fəʳ ðə ˌtaɪm ˈbiːɪŋ/ [adverb]
for a short time, but not permanently - use this about a temporary arrangement or way of dealing with a situation :
▪ Leave the groceries there for now - I’ll put them away later.
▪ For the time being he can stay here, but I want that dog out of here by the end of the week.
▷ for the moment /fəʳ ðə ˈməʊmənt/ [adverb] especially spoken
use this to say that something is true or happening now, but may change soon :
▪ For the moment the city seems quiet, but the fighting could start again at any time.
▪ ‘How’s your apartment?’ ‘It’s fine for the moment, but I’d rather live nearer town.’
▪ Assuming for the moment that you did get the job, where would you live?
▷ as of now /ˌæz əv ˈnaʊ/ [adverb] American
use this to say that something is true or happening now, but will probably change in the future :
▪ As of now, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis.
▪ My plan, as of now, is to graduate in May then start looking for a job in the fall.
▷ for the present /fəʳ ðə ˈprez ə nt/ [adverb] formal :
▪ It is assumed, for the present, that the meeting will go ahead.
▪ A reduction in interest rates seems highly unlikely for the present.
▷ in the meanwhile/in the meantime /ɪn ðə ˈmiːnwaɪl, ɪn ðə ˈmiːntaɪm/ [adverb]
between now and some time in the future, for example until a situation changes :
▪ Payday is not until next week, but if you need any money in the meanwhile, let me know.
▪ You probably won’t receive the contract until Thursday but I can fax you a copy in the meantime.
meanwhile
▪ The flight will be announced soon. Meanwhile, please remain seated.
6. when something does not happen now
▷ no longer /nəʊ ˈlɒŋgəʳǁ-ˈlɔːŋ-/ [adverb]
use this to say that a situation that existed until recently does not exist now :
▪ He no longer felt sure that he was right.
+ adj
▪ The bridge had collapsed, and it was no longer possible to cross the river.
▷ not any more /ˌnɒt eni ˈmɔːʳ/ [adverb]
used when something has changed, especially suddenly :
▪ Alex doesn’t work here any more.
▪ Do what you like. I don’t care any more!
▪ At one time doctors recommended red meat as part of a healthy diet but not any more.
▷ not now /nɒt ˈnaʊ/ [adverb]
use this to say that something happened in the past, but it does not happen now :
▪ When I was younger I spent hours lying out in the sun but not now.
▪ People used to respect teachers, but they don’t now.