student asking question

What does "for now" mean? Is "for" used to emphasize "now"? Does it have same meaning with "by now"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"For now" means for the moment, for the time being, or momentarily. It emphasizes the status or condition of something at that moment, but that it can change in the future. Ex: For now, the bridge is stable and will not collapse. Ex: For now, the pandemic situation is stable in my city. It does not mean the same thing as "by now," as that indicates an expectation that something will have happened by the end of a particular time (now). Ex: The police should have arrived by now. Ex: The food should be ready by now.

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