# by now

idiom · CEFR B2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/by-now
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

you use this to say that something should have happened already or is likely true at this moment.

## Examples

- The mail should arrive by now.
- She probably knows the secret by now.
- You should be a pro at this game by now.
- He usually wakes up by now on a Saturday morning.
- I expected them to be here by now, but the heavy traffic must have delayed their arrival.
- If you started the laundry an hour ago, the clothes should be dry by now.
- Most people have finished their lunch by now, so the restaurant is much quieter.
- The store usually sends a confirmation email within minutes, so you really ought to check your spam folder by now.
- Given the urgency of the situation, the authorities should have reached a definitive conclusion by now, yet the investigation continues without any clear resolution.

## Origin

From the preposition *by*, in the sense of occurring not later than a specified time or before the end of a given interval, combined with the adverb *now*. The construction follows the standard English pattern for establishing a temporal limit relative to the present moment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.