not tomorrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not tomorrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something will not happen the following day, often in response to a suggestion or request. Example: "I can't meet you for lunch; not tomorrow, but maybe later in the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Not tonight, and not tomorrow".

The New Yorker

Not today, not tomorrow.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Probably not tomorrow, either.

The Guardian - Opinion

"And not tomorrow either".

The Guardian - Tech

Not tomorrow, but now.

The Guardian

But not today, and not tomorrow.

The New York Times

"And right now war is not tomorrow.

The New Yorker

Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow.

The New York Times

This election is not tomorrow.

The Guardian

If not, tomorrow will be too late.

The Guardian

Not tomorrow or next week, but soon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When used in dialogue or informal writing, consider adding emphasis through intonation or punctuation (e.g., "Not tomorrow!") to convey urgency or determination.

Common error

Avoid using "not tomorrow" when you mean something will never happen. The phrase implies a postponement, not a complete cancellation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not tomorrow" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating when an action will not take place. Ludwig examples show it used to negate or postpone events or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not tomorrow" is a grammatically sound and common way to indicate that an event or action will not occur on the immediately following day. Ludwig's analysis of various sources reveals its prevalent use in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. While straightforward in meaning, variations like ""not on the morrow"" exist for different stylistic preferences. The key is to use "not tomorrow" when you specifically mean not the next day, rather than to imply complete cancellation or a distant future.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not the following day

Replaces "tomorrow" with a more descriptive phrase, maintaining the same meaning.

not the next day

Uses "next day" instead of "tomorrow", offering a slightly more common alternative.

not the day after today

More descriptive and literal, emphasizing the specific day being excluded.

not on the morrow

A more formal or archaic way of saying "not tomorrow".

not anytime soon

Broadens the timeframe, indicating it won't happen in the immediate future, including tomorrow.

not in the immediate future

Similar to "not anytime soon", suggesting a delay beyond just one day.

not in the coming days

Expands the timeframe to include several days, not just tomorrow.

at a later date

Defers the action to an unspecified future time.

not in the short term

Indicates the action or event will not occur in the near future.

not for a while

Implies a more extended period of postponement.

FAQs

How can I use "not tomorrow" in a sentence?

You can use "not tomorrow" to indicate that something will not happen the following day. For example, "I can't meet you then; "not tomorrow", but maybe later in the week."

What's a more formal way to say "not tomorrow"?

A more formal alternative to "not tomorrow" is "not on the morrow", although this phrase is less commonly used in contemporary English.

Is it correct to say "not for tomorrow" instead of "not tomorrow"?

While "not for tomorrow" isn't inherently incorrect, it's less idiomatic than "not tomorrow". "Not for tomorrow" might suggest something is not intended or prepared for the following day, rather than simply not happening then.

What does "not tomorrow, but soon" imply?

"Not tomorrow, but soon" indicates that while something won't happen on the immediate next day, it is expected to occur in the near future. It expresses a sense of anticipation or urgency that goes beyond a simple postponement.