# today

/təˈdeɪ/ (US) · /tədˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/today
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. on this day

adverb · CEFR A1

on the current day or date.

For teachers: on the present day; during the current twenty-four-hour period.

- I have a lot of work to finish today before I can go home.
- The results of the national election are expected to be announced today, following a record-breaking turnout at the polls.

### 2. nowadays

adverb · CEFR B1

at the present time or in the modern world.

For teachers: in the current era or contemporary period; used to contrast with the past.

- Many people work from home today because of better technology.
- Today, researchers are increasingly focused on sustainable energy solutions to mitigate the long-term effects of climate change.

### 3. the current day

noun · CEFR A1

this day or the present time.

For teachers: the present day or the current period of time. Functions as a noun when acting as a subject or object.

- Today is the first day of the summer holidays.
- Today marks the tenth anniversary of the company's founding, a milestone celebrated by all original employees.

### 4. the present era

noun · CEFR B2

the modern world or the times we live in now.

For teachers: the contemporary era or the current state of affairs in society.

- The youth of today face different challenges than their parents did.
- The leaders of today must navigate a complex geopolitical landscape that was unimaginable only a few decades ago.

## Examples

- Today is the first day of the summer holidays.
- The newspaper reports that today will be the hottest day of the year so far.
- While historians focus on the distant past, many social critics argue that the challenges of today require a completely new set of political tools.

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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.