Cool MateCurrently vs Nowadays
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Currently
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Nowadays
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: Currently
| Currently | Nowadays | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌrəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnaʊədeɪz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnaʊədeɪz/"]/ |
| Meaning | right now | Today or in the present time |
| Example | The hourly charge is currently £35. | Nowadays most kids prefer going online to reading books. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | currently available, currently working, currently experiencing | nowadays people, nowadays technology, nowadays lifestyle, nowadays children |
| Antonyms | previously, formerly | formerly, previously, in the past, once |
| Common mistakes | Using 'currently' in a past context, which is incorrect., Confusing 'currently' with 'actually' or 'really.', Overusing 'currently' when 'now' would suffice. | Using 'nowadays' with past tense verbs, Confusing 'nowadays' with 'these days', Not placing 'nowadays' at the beginning or end of a sentence |
| Usage notes | Use this when talking about situations happening at the present time. Avoid in very formal contexts; instead, use 'at present.' | Use 'nowadays' when talking about things that are true in the present time but may not have been true in the past. It is neutral and appropriate for both spoken and written English, but avoid using it in very formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Currently vs Nowadays
What's the difference between Currently and Nowadays?
Currently: right now Nowadays: Today or in the present time
Which is more common: Currently and Nowadays?
Currently is the most common in everyday English.
Are Currently and Nowadays the same CEFR level?
Currently: B1, Nowadays: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Currently and Nowadays interchangeably?
Not always. Currently and Nowadays 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.