up to now — from the beginning of a period to the present time; until now
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: from the beginning of a period to the present time; until now
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈʌp tu naʊ/
Example Sentences
- Up to now, my cat has destroyed three sofas, two curtains, and my sanity.
- Up to now, the project has been running smoothly.
- Up to now, I've watched 47 episodes of this drama and still don't know the main character's name.
up to now
ADVERB[/ˈʌp tu naʊ/]
from the beginning of a period to the present time; until now
a grandmother points to the earliest baby photo on the wall while her granddaughter looks up attentively. She traces her finger along a timeline of photos showing the child growing from baby to toddler to current age. The wall displays a clear progression of birthday parties, first steps, and family gatherings arranged chronologically. The grandmother's expression shows pride as she gestures across all the memories they've shared. The child smiles recognizing herself in each stage of growth displayed before them. the span from the beginning of the child's life to the present time
Up to now, somehow solved every case with a raised eyebrow
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase developed in Modern English as a compound adverbial expression combining 'up' (indicating completion or progression) with 'to now' (until the present moment). The construction emerged to express temporal continuity and is primarily used in contemporary English to indicate something that has continued from a past point to the present.
Breakdown
up (completion, reaching a point) + to (direction, reaching toward) + now (present moment). The phrase functions as an adverbial construction where 'up' emphasizes continuity and completion, while 'to now' anchors the reference point at the current time.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Up to now, my cat has destroyed three sofas, two curtains, and my sanity.”
“Up to now, the project has been running smoothly.”
“Up to now, I've watched 47 episodes of this drama and still don't know the main character's name.”
“The sales figures up to now show steady growth.”
📚Related Words
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