today
A1Neutral to informal across all contexts; 'this day' is more formal.
Definition
Meaning
The day that is happening at the present time; this day.
The present period of time; the modern era.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions primarily as a noun and an adverb. As a noun, it refers to the specific 24-hour period. As an adverb, it modifies verbs of action or states, meaning 'on this day'. Can be used metaphorically to denote the contemporary age.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually none in core meaning. Minor differences in collocational frequency.
Connotations
Identical connotations of immediacy and contemporaneity.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties. No regional preference.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is + ADJ + today.Let's + V + today.Today, + S + V.Today is + NOUN.As of today, + CLAUSE.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Here today, gone tomorrow.”
- “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”
- “What's the today special? (restaurant context)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The report must be submitted by close of business today.'
Academic
'Scholars today debate the implications of this theory.'
Everyday
'What are your plans for today?'
Technical
'The system's uptime, as of today, is 99.9%.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- I'm working from home today.
- It's raining quite heavily today.
American English
- We need to finish the project today.
- The package should arrive today.
adjective
British English
- the today special
- today's headlines
American English
- the today show
- today's meeting agenda
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Today is Tuesday.
- The weather is nice today.
- I am going to the shops today.
- I have three meetings scheduled for today.
- Compared to yesterday, I feel much better today.
- Today's lesson is about grammar.
- As of today, the new policy is officially in effect.
- The challenges facing young people today are unprecedented.
- I'd rather not postpone the decision; let's finalise it today.
- The technological landscape today bears little resemblance to that of a decade ago.
- His statement, made today in parliament, signals a significant shift in policy.
- We must contextualise the author's work within the socio-political milieu of today.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TO' + 'DAY'. You are moving TO the present DAY.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT/FLOW (Today is here, we move through today).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'on Monday' literally as 'in Monday'. Use 'on Monday'. 'Today' itself doesn't require a preposition when used as an adverb.
- Do not confuse 'today' (сегодня) with 'nowadays' (в наше время), which is broader.
Common Mistakes
- Using a preposition incorrectly: 'In today' (wrong) vs. 'Today' (correct).
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'todays' is very rare and typically only used in possessive forms like 'today's'.
- Confusing adverbial and noun uses: 'I will do it on today' (unnatural) vs. 'I will do it today' (natural).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'today' correctly as an adverb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'today' is not used as a verb in standard modern English. It functions as a noun and an adverb.
No, it is almost always incorrect. When 'today' is used as an adverb meaning 'on this day', no preposition is needed (e.g., 'I saw her today'). The only common exception is the fixed, formal phrase 'on today's date'.
There is no standard plural form. 'Today' is an uncountable noun referring to a concept. You would not say 'many todays'. To refer to multiple present days, you would use phrases like 'these days', 'in modern times', or 'nowadays'.
'Today' most concretely refers to this specific calendar day. It can also refer broadly to the present era. 'Nowadays' refers only to the general present period or current times, not a specific day. It is less formal and often implies a contrast with the past.
Collections
Part of a collection
Numbers and Time
A1 · 50 words · Numbers, dates, days and expressions of time.
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