Meaning
by now
- by now, at this point
- almost, nearly
In a sentence
Ormai è tardi, andiamo a casa.
It's late now, let's go home.
Ormai è tutto deciso.
By now everything is decided.
Siamo ormai quasi arrivati al mare.
We're almost at the sea now.
Usage notes
- Use 'ormai' for actions completed by the present or a past moment; 'già' emphasizes surprise or earliness.
- Avoid overusing 'ormai' in formal writing; 'a questo punto' or 'a quel punto' often sound more polished.
- Common in spoken Italian, especially to express resignation or inevitability (e.g., 'Ormai è tardi').