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By now vs until now

Both 'by now' and 'until now' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'By now' is used to refer to a point in time that has already passed, while 'until now' is used to refer to a point in time up to the present moment.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1355 views

By now

The phrase 'by now' is correct and commonly used in English. It refers to a point in time that has already passed.

Use 'by now' to refer to something that should have happened or become known at a particular point in time in the past.

Examples:

By now, you should have received the package.
She should have finished her homework by now.
By now, they must have realized their mistake.
By now, the meeting should have started.
By now, he should have arrived at the airport.

Show examples from the web [+]

By now he thinks freedom is something he dreamed.
By now... there's nothing which is good for me yet.
By now, it would be assigned to someone else.
By now, these things just feel wrong.
By now, he's completely submissive to her.
By now, most of you know who I am.
By now he's found the house again.
By now I was close-knit with you.
By now, they've taken the turbine room.
By now they should be digging pits, putting bags of sand up.
By now, all the merchandise is accounted for.
By now, the pattern is all too familiar.
By now most of the urban cities has to be compromised.
By now, everyone is looking for me...
By now you realize that escape is impossible.
By now, the Wraith will be upon him.
By now it's your trademark.
By now, Solomon is dead by his own deeds.
By now the stuff is out of your system.
By now, it should be emitting the unmistakable odor of putrefaction.

Alternatives:

by this time
by this point
by this moment
by this juncture
by this stage

until now

The phrase 'until now' is correct and commonly used in English. It refers to a point in time up to the present moment.

Use 'until now' to refer to something that has been true or the case up to the present moment, but may change in the future.

Examples:

Until now, I had never tried sushi.
She had always lived in the city until now.
Until now, he had never failed a test.
I had never been to Europe until now.
Until now, they had never won a championship.

Show examples from the web [+]

Weasel covered his tracks until now.
Didn't really know why until now.
There were only seven cons until now.
A region completely unchartered by humans until now.
We never gave you the full-Strength recipe until now.
Them's friends of yours until now.
We never fought each other until now.
The kid has disappeared, until now.
Salazar has been insulated and completely untouchable until now.
Investigate all suicides up until now.
I've never questioned that conviction until now.
It's about somebody getting away with murder... until now.
I didnt write until now because I was clapping.
Just not enough to call me until now.
I've been protecting you until now.
Guess up until now Eureka was pretty cool.
Relief was never in sight until now.
Well, until now it looks like that.
Up until now, Al Sakar has always been a leech.
That's probably a body that they just didn't find until now.

Alternatives:

up to now
so far
to this point
to date
as of now

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