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today

tuh-DAY/təˈdeɪ/

5 meanings of today

Practice

  1. 1
    adverb
    On the present day or date.

    The committee will announce its decision today.

    She finished the report today, well ahead of the deadline.

    UsageFor parts of the current day, use this morning, this afternoon, or this evening.

  2. 2
    adverb
    In the current era; in the times we now live in.

    Today, information travels around the globe in seconds.

    Diseases that were once fatal can be cured easily today.

    Similarnowadays, now, currently

  3. 3
    noununcountable
    The present day or date, considered as a period of time.

    Today marks the tenth anniversary of the company's founding.

    We can put off the difficult conversation, but not past today.

    Note

    Here the word does a noun's work, standing as subject or object: today is the day, we could've spent today at the seaside. To tell it from the adverb, check whether it fills a noun slot, such as the subject in today is my birthday, rather than just saying when something happens.

  4. 4
    noununcountable
    The present era; the current age viewed as a whole.

    The music of today sounds nothing like the songs of the 1950s.

    Today's workforce expects far more flexibility than previous generations did.

    UsageOften today's + noun or of today: today's workforce, the music of today.

    Note

    Where the "these days" adverb modifies a whole clause, this noun attaches to another noun. It has two habits: the possessive (today's modern man) and the of-phrase (the youth of today). Both quietly measure the present against earlier generations, which is why the phrasing suits advertising and commentary on how times have changed.

  5. 5
    adjectivecolloquial
    Current and up to date; in keeping with present-day style.

    Her whole apartment has a sleek, very today look.

    The brand wanted something fresh and today rather than nostalgic.

    UsageUsually after very or so: very today, so today.

    Similarcurrent, now

    Oppositedated, outdated, old-fashioned

    Note

    A piece of 1960s style talk. Phil Spector, quoted in Tom Wolfe's "The First Tycoon of Teen" (1965), calls a sound "very today." A year later Joan Barthel finds Françoise Hardy "so today." Its synonym now is used the same way.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • Tom Wolfe quotes Phil Spector describing his music as "very today" in "The First Tycoon of Teen". en.wiktionary.org
    • Wolfe's profile was published in 1965. en.wikipedia.org
    • In 1966, one year later, Joan Barthel described Françoise Hardy as "so today". en.wiktionary.org

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of today apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English today, from Old English tōdæġ, tō dæġe, literally "on this day," formed from "to" plus "day." It is related to Dutch vandaag and Swedish i dag, both meaning "today."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 6 facts