Currently vs Presently

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Currently

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 adverb

Presently

Top 2,000 (common) C1 adverb

Most common: Currently

	Currently	Presently
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌrəntli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrəntli/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈprezntli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈprezntli/"]/
Meaning	right now	Right now; at this time.
Example	The hourly charge is currently £35.	The crime is presently being investigated by the police.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	C1
Part of speech	adverb	adverb
Collocations	currently available, currently working, currently experiencing	presently available, presently under review, presently working, presently experiencing, presently engaged
Antonyms	previously, formerly	formerly, previously, later, eventually
Common mistakes	Using 'currently' in a past context, which is incorrect., Confusing 'currently' with 'actually' or 'really.', Overusing 'currently' when 'now' would suffice.	'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 this when talking about situations happening at the present time. Avoid in very formal contexts; instead, use 'at present.'	Use 'presently' in neutral contexts to indicate something happening now. Avoid in very formal writing where 'currently' or 'at this moment' might be clearer.

See it in real clips

Currently orbiting Saturn.

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

Mr. White is currently on medical leave.

Top Gear › S1 E1

And they're currently confiscating 30 cars a day.

Currently orbiting Saturn.

Breaking Bad › S1 E7

Mr. White is currently on medical leave.

Currently

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

and are presently ridding the stepstones of its pirate infestation.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

I am presently supervising her extraction.

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

and are presently ridding the stepstones of its pirate infestation.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

I am presently supervising her extraction.

Presently

Frequently asked questions: Currently vs Presently

What's the difference between Currently and Presently?

Currently: right now Presently: Right now; at this time.

Which is more common: Currently and Presently?

Currently is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Currently and Presently?

Presently is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Currently and Presently the same CEFR level?

Currently: B1, Presently: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Currently and Presently?

Currently: adverb, Presently: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Currently: The hourly charge is currently £35. Presently: The crime is presently being investigated by the police.

Can I use Currently and Presently interchangeably?

Not always. Currently 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.