nowadays

adverb

now·​a·​days ˈnau̇-(ə-)ˌdāz How to pronounce nowadays (audio)
Synonyms of nowadays
: at the present time
People don't wear hats much nowadays.

Synonyms of nowadays

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Examples of nowadays in a Sentence

People don't wear hats much nowadays. nowadays it's rare for people to carry cash when they can pay by other methods
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After all, the event nowadays feels like the clear king of the Cannes jungle. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 My life is a lot more boring nowadays, and the mere idea of carrying crates of records makes my back ache. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 Everyone nowadays is very scared of talking about things. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026 Everything the man is touching nowadays turns into gold for him and rot for the rest of us, a curse any smart person would avoid. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nowadays

Word History

Etymology

Middle English now a dayes, from now entry 1 + a dayes during the day

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nowadays was in the 14th century

Rhymes for nowadays

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Browse Nearby Words

NOW account
nowadays
now and again
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nowadays.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nowadays. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nowadays

adverb
now·​a·​days ˈnau̇-(ə-)ˌdāz How to pronounce nowadays (audio)
: at the present time

More from Merriam-Webster on nowadays

Nglish: Translation of nowadays for Spanish Speakers

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