Cool MateCurrently vs This time
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Currently
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
This time
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Currently
| Currently | This time | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkʌrəntli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrəntli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs taɪm//🇺🇸 //ðɪs taɪm// |
| Meaning | right now | Now, not any other time. |
| Example | The hourly charge is currently £35. | I will succeed this time. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | currently available, currently working, currently experiencing | this time around, this time tomorrow, this time next week |
| 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. | Using 'this time' when referring to future times instead of present., Confusing 'this time' with 'next time' which refers to a future instance. |
| Usage notes | Use this when talking about situations happening at the present time. Avoid in very formal contexts; instead, use 'at present.' | Use 'this time' to emphasize the current occasion. It works in both spoken and written contexts, often for contrasting previous experiences. |
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Frequently asked questions: Currently vs This time
What's the difference between Currently and This time?
Currently: right now This time: Now, not any other time.
Which is more common: Currently and This time?
Currently is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Currently: The hourly charge is currently £35. This time: I will succeed this time.
Can I use Currently and This time interchangeably?
Not always. Currently and This time 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.