currently

currently — adverb

1. during the present period, describing a situation or activity that is happening

1.adverbB2
Definition

during the present period, describing a situation or activity that is happening now and may continue for a while

Example

Aiko is currently working on a new design for the company's website.

mid-position after auxiliary 'is' + present continuous

There are currently more than two thousand students enrolled at the international school.

existential 'there are' + 'currently' mid-position

Common collocations
  • currently available
  • currently enrolled
  • currently under review
  • currently working on
  • currently employed
  • currently underway
Synonyms
  • now

    more common and less formal; can refer to this exact instant or this broader period

  • at present

    slightly more formal than 'currently'; often used in writing and official contexts

  • presently

    ambiguous — means 'now' mainly in British English, but in American English it more often means 'soon'; avoid in cross-dialect writing

Antonyms
  • formerly

    refers to a past state that is no longer true

  • previously

    describes something that was the case before the present moment

Grammar Patterns

currently + present continuous

currently + simple present (state verbs)

be + currently + past participle

Usage Note

Frequently found in mid-position, directly after the first auxiliary verb (is, are, have, has, was, were) or after the verb 'to be' when it is the main verb. Less commonly used at the beginning or end of a clause, though both are grammatically possible in informal speech.

Common Mistakes

I am working currently on the project.
I am currently working on the project.
'currently' is rarely placed after the main verb; it belongs after the auxiliary.
Currently, I study mathematics at university now.
I am currently studying mathematics at university.
avoid pairing 'currently' with 'now' in the same clause; they are redundant.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Currently, now, presently, and at present all relate to the present time, but they differ in formality, scope, and potential confusion. Now is the most frequent and neutral word, covering both the exact moment ('Call me now') and the general present period ('We live in a digital world now'). Currently focuses specifically on an ongoing situation or process that may change, making it the best choice when describing temporary states, projects, or conditions. At present is a slightly more formal phrase with the same meaning as 'currently'; it fits well in academic writing or official announcements. Presently is the trickiest of the group: in British English it can still mean 'now', but in American English it overwhelmingly means 'soon'. A learner writing for an international audience should prefer currently or at present to avoid this ambiguity. For example: 'The company is currently hiring software engineers' (clear, neutral) vs. 'The company is presently hiring' (could mean 'soon' in the US).

now ↗presently ↗at present

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • currently available
  • currently under
  • currently underway
  • currently enrolled in
  • currently employed as
  • currently working on
  • currently based in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From the adjective 'current' (14th century, from Old French 'corant' meaning 'running', from Latin 'currere' 'to run') plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The sense of 'current' meaning 'belonging to the present time' dates from the late 16th century, and 'currently' in its modern adverbial use became common by the mid-17th century.