by now
Up to this point
By now indicates that something has happened or should have happened before the present moment: By now you've probably heard the news.
It often implies expectation or impatience—if something hasn't occurred by now, it may be overdue: She should have called by now.
The phrase can also mark accumulated time or change: By now we've been waiting an hour.
Prior to now
- presentGift or current moment
- momentBrief period of time
- currentDirected flow of charge
- immediateHappening without delay
today · presently · at this point · as we speak · thus far · so far · to date · at present
Past obligation unfulfilled
- supposed toExpected or required
- anticipatedExpected in advance
- expectedRegarded as likely
- presumablyTaken as likely true
ideally · ought to · certainly · surely · probably · likely · hopefully · predictably
Time already gone
- meanwhileDuring the intervening time
- long sinceIn the distant past
- ages agoThe remote past
- over timeAcross a duration
already
Prior to now
immediate · today · presently · at this point · as we speak · thus far · so far · to date · at present · currently
should have
Past obligation unfulfilled
- supposed toExpected or required
- anticipatedExpected in advance
- expectedRegarded as likely
presumably · ideally · ought to · certainly · surely · probably · likely · hopefully · predictably · assumedly
past
Time already gone
- meanwhileDuring the intervening time
- long sinceIn the distant past
- ages agoThe remote past
by noweventually
At a later time
someday · in the future · later · at some point · one day
now, by, bystander, bygone, byproduct, bylaw, byword, byline