Currently vs Now

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Currently

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 adverb

Now

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adverb

	Currently	Now
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌrəntli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrəntli/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/naʊ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/naʊ/"]/
Meaning	right now	at this moment or time
Example	The hourly charge is currently £35.	I am reading a book now.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	A1
Part of speech	adverb	adverb
Collocations	currently available, currently working, currently experiencing	now or never, from now on, now and then
Antonyms	previously, formerly	later, after
Common mistakes	Using 'currently' in a past context, which is incorrect., Confusing 'currently' with 'actually' or 'really.', Overusing 'currently' when 'now' would suffice.	Confused with 'then' when referring to time., Using 'now' too formally in written communication., Overusing 'now' in conversation, leading to redundancy.
Usage notes	Use this when talking about situations happening at the present time. Avoid in very formal contexts; instead, use 'at present.'	Used to indicate the present time. Avoid using 'now' in very formal contexts where 'currently' might be more appropriate.

See it in real clips

Currently orbiting Saturn.

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

Mr. White is currently on medical leave.

Top Gear › S1 E1

And they're currently confiscating 30 cars a day.

Currently orbiting Saturn.

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

Mr. White is currently on medical leave.

Currently

Frequently asked questions: Currently vs Now

What's the difference between Currently and Now?

Currently: right now Now: at this moment or time

Which is more advanced: Currently and Now?

Currently is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Currently and Now the same CEFR level?

Currently: B1, Now: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Currently and Now?

Currently: adverb, Now: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Currently: The hourly charge is currently £35. Now: I am reading a book now.

Can I use Currently and Now interchangeably?

Not always. Currently and Now are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.