Meaning & use
today
Last updated
Meanings
adverbnot comparable
During the present day, the day on which you are speaking or writing.
Grammar: Needs no preposition: I'm busy today, not on today.
Patterns
- do something today
- today + clause
I have a dentist appointment today.
Did you check the mail today?
It's raining today, so we'll stay in.
adverbnot comparable
At the present time in history, as compared with the past.
Grammar: Often at the start or end of a sentence: today, most people own a phone.
Patterns
- today, + clause
- something is used today
Today, most people shop online for at least some things.
Few people write letters by hand today.
Women make up much of the workforce today.
noununcountable
The present day, or the day that is happening now.
Grammar: Used as a subject or object without an article: today is my birthday.
Patterns
- today is something
- today's something
Today is my sister's graduation.
Today's lesson is about fractions.
Where is today's newspaper?
noununcountable
The present age or period in general.
Grammar: Often with a possessive before another noun: today's world.
Patterns
- today's world
- the young people of today
Today's technology would have amazed our grandparents.
The problems of today are different from those of the past.
Students of today have more choices than ever.
Common combinations
- as of today
- As of today, the road is closed.
- later today
- I'll call you later today.
- today's world
- Skills like coding matter in today's world.
- here today, gone tomorrow
- Fashion trends are often here today, gone tomorrow.
- to this day
- To this day, he remembers the storm.
- what's today's date
- What's today's date? I need to fill in the form.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nowadays
- Nowadays only means in the present period compared with the past, and it cannot mean the current day.
- currently
- Currently means at this moment in a general way and does not point to the calendar day.
- at present
- At present is more formal and refers to the present time as a short period.
- this day
- This day is a formal or old-fashioned way to refer to the present day.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: today or to day?
today vs to day
Written as two words, to day is incorrect for the present day. Today is always one word.
Practice
Which sentence uses today as a noun?
Choose one answer.
In the second sentence today is the subject of the sentence. In the others it works as an adverb that says when something happens.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “today”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.