Cool MateAt present vs Now vs Presently
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
At present
Top 2,000 (common)
Now
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Presently
Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb
Most common: Now
| At present | Now | Presently | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ət ˈprɛzənt//🇺🇸 //æt ˈprɛzənt// | 🇬🇧 /["/naʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/naʊ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈprezntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprezntli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Right now or currently. | at this moment or time | Right now; at this time. |
| Example | At present, I am working on a new project. | I am reading a book now. | The crime is presently being investigated by the police. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | at present time, at present moment, at present issue | now or never, from now on, now and then | presently available, presently under review, presently working, presently experiencing, presently engaged |
| Antonyms | - | later, after | 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. | Confused with 'then' when referring to time., Using 'now' too formally in written communication., Overusing 'now' in conversation, leading to redundancy. | '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. | Used to indicate the present time. Avoid using 'now' in very formal contexts where 'currently' might be more appropriate. | 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 Now vs Presently
What's the difference between At present, Now, and Presently?
At present: Right now or currently. Now: at this moment or time Presently: Right now; at this time.
Which is more common: At present, Now, and Presently?
Now is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: At present, Now, 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. Now: I am reading a book now. Presently: The crime is presently being investigated by the police.
Can I use At present, Now, and Presently interchangeably?
Not always. At present, Now, 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.