Cool MateAt present vs Currently vs Nowadays vs Presently
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
At present
Currently
Nowadays
Presently
| At present | Currently | Nowadays | Presently | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ət ˈprɛzənt//🇺🇸 //æt ˈprɛzənt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌrəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnaʊədeɪz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnaʊədeɪz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈprezntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprezntli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Right now or currently. | right now | Today or in the present time | Right now; at this time. |
| Example | At present, I am working on a new project. | The hourly charge is currently £35. | Nowadays most kids prefer going online to reading books. | The crime is presently being investigated by the police. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | at present time, at present moment, at present issue | currently available, currently working, currently experiencing | nowadays people, nowadays technology, nowadays lifestyle, nowadays children | presently available, presently under review, presently working, presently experiencing, presently engaged |
| Antonyms | - | previously, formerly | formerly, previously, in the past, once | formerly, previously, later, eventually |
| Common mistakes | Using 'present' alone instead of the full phrase., Confusing 'at present' with 'in the present'., Using it in overly casual contexts where 'now' is more appropriate. | 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 | 'Presently' used to mean 'soon' instead of 'now'., Confusing 'presently' with 'currently' in terms of formality., 'Presently' used too often in formal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'at present' in writing or formal speech. It sounds more professional than 'right now'. Avoid using in casual conversations. | 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. | Use 'presently' in neutral contexts to indicate something happening now. Avoid in very formal writing where 'currently' or 'at this moment' might be clearer. |
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Frequently asked questions: At present vs Currently vs Nowadays vs Presently
What's the difference between At present, Currently, Nowadays, and Presently?
At present: Right now or currently. Currently: right now Nowadays: Today or in the present time Presently: Right now; at this time.
Which is more common: At present, Currently, Nowadays, and Presently?
Currently is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: At present, Currently, Nowadays, and Presently?
Presently is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
At present: At present, I am working on a new project. Currently: The hourly charge is currently £35. Nowadays: Nowadays most kids prefer going online to reading books. Presently: The crime is presently being investigated by the police.
Can I use At present, Currently, Nowadays, and Presently interchangeably?
Not always. At present, Currently, Nowadays, and Presently 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.