Cool MateCurrently vs In this lifetime
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Currently
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
In this lifetime
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Currently
| Currently | In this lifetime | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌrəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪn ðɪs ˈlaɪftaɪm//🇺🇸 //ɪn ðɪs ˈlaɪftaɪm// |
| Meaning | right now | During this life you are living now. |
| Example | The hourly charge is currently £35. | You should pursue your dreams in this lifetime. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | currently available, currently working, currently experiencing | make the most of in this lifetime, dreams in this lifetime, experiences in this lifetime |
| Antonyms | previously, formerly | - |
| 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 'in a lifetime', which means over the course of one's life., Used incorrectly with 'in this life', which might imply a more immediate context. |
| Usage notes | Use this when talking about situations happening at the present time. Avoid in very formal contexts; instead, use 'at present.' | Typically used in philosophical or motivational contexts. Not commonly used in formal academic writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Currently vs In this lifetime
What's the difference between Currently and In this lifetime?
Currently: right now In this lifetime: During this life you are living now.
Which is more common: Currently and In this lifetime?
Currently is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Currently: The hourly charge is currently £35. In this lifetime: You should pursue your dreams in this lifetime.
Can I use Currently and In this lifetime interchangeably?
Not always. Currently and In this lifetime 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.