Currently

How to spell currently

9 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce currently

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does currently mean?

1. adverbAt the present time; right now.

Currently in a sentence

• She is currently working on a major report for the board.

• The office is currently closed for renovations.

Where does currently come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin verb currere, which literally meant 'to run'. From its present participle currens (running) came the adjective 'current', describing something that is running or flowing in the present moment, whether a stream of water or the course of events. English took 'current' through Old French in the medieval period, and the adverb 'currently' formed within English by adding the native -ly ending. The same currere root flows through a surprising family of words, including 'occur', 'recur', 'curriculum', and even 'corridor', all built on the idea of running or a running course. The spelling trap is the doubled r at the heart of the word, a direct inheritance from that running Latin root.

How the word is built

• curr- (from currere: to run)
• -ent (present participle adjective)
• -ly (adverb suffix)