Cool MateCurrently vs Now vs This time
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Currently
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Now
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
This time
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
| Currently | Now | This time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌrəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/naʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/naʊ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs taɪm//🇺🇸 //ðɪs taɪm// |
| Meaning | right now | at this moment or time | Now, not any other time. |
| Example | The hourly charge is currently £35. | I am reading a book now. | I will succeed this time. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly 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 | this time around, this time tomorrow, this time next week |
| 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. | Using 'this time' when referring to future times instead of present., Confusing 'this time' with 'next time' which refers to a future instance. |
| 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. | Use 'this time' to emphasize the current occasion. It works in both spoken and written contexts, often for contrasting previous experiences. |
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Frequently asked questions: Currently vs Now vs This time
What's the difference between Currently, Now, and This time?
Currently: right now Now: at this moment or time This time: Now, not any other time.
Which is more advanced: Currently, Now, and This time?
Currently is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Currently: The hourly charge is currently £35. Now: I am reading a book now. This time: I will succeed this time.
Can I use Currently, Now, and This time interchangeably?
Not always. Currently, Now, and This time 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.