Meaning & use
nowadays
Last updated
UK/ˈnaʊədeɪz/
US/ˈnaʊədeɪz/
Meaning
adverb
at the present time, especially when comparing it with the past
Grammar: Usually comes at the beginning or end of a sentence. It is not used before a noun.
Patterns
- nowadays, ...
- ... nowadays
Nowadays, most people shop online instead of going to stores.
Children spend much more time indoors nowadays.
Nowadays it's hard to find a phone booth.
Common combinations
- nowadays, people
- Nowadays, people expect fast internet everywhere.
- more common nowadays
- Working from home is much more common nowadays.
- these days
- These days, I rarely watch television.
Synonyms and how they differ
- these days
- Very similar, but 'these days' is slightly more informal and can be used in the same positions.
- currently
- Means 'at the present time' but does not suggest a contrast with the past.
- today
- Can mean 'in the present period', but also means 'on this day'; nowadays never means 'on this day'.
Opposites
in the pastformerly
Commonly confused: nowadays or now a days?
nowadays vs now a days
This is a misspelling. The correct form is one word: nowadays.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
Nowadays is one word and usually takes a comma when it comes at the beginning. Option 2 is possible but less clear; option 3 is a misspelling; option 4 has incorrect word order.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nowadays”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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