The phrase "currently under review" means that something is presently being examined, assessed, or considered. It indicates that a formal process of evaluation is underway, but a decision or outcome has not yet been reached.
The meaning is semi-idiomatic. While the individual words have clear meanings, the specific combination implies a formal process of evaluation that goes beyond the literal sum of its parts.
The register is generally neutral to formal. It's suitable for professional, academic, or journalistic contexts.
The grammatical pattern is adverb + prepositional phrase (adjective phrase). "Currently" is an adverb modifying the prepositional phrase "under review", which acts as an adjective describing the subject.
The phrase usually follows a subject that is a policy, document, process, application, or issue. No additional prepositions typically follow.
The components cannot be separated. "Under review" is a fixed phrase, and "currently" directly modifies it.
It would sound unnatural to use a different preposition (e.g., "currently in review," "currently on review"). Replacing "review" with a synonym like "assessment" or "evaluation" is possible, but "under review" is the most common and idiomatic phrasing. Using it to describe a person (e.g., "John is currently under review") is also usually incorrect; it's generally used for things or processes.
These examples are sourced from currently under review on Ludwig.guru.
"These figures are currently under review." — The New York Times
"There are 10 applications for new plants currently under review." — The New York Times
"A council spokeswoman said the guidelines were currently under review." — The Guardian
"This is currently under review, with the outcome expected in the autumn." — The Guardian - Business
"The constitutionality of this law is currently under review by the Supreme Court." — The New York Times
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/currently+under+review
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| being considered | A more general phrase that might imply less formality. |
| under consideration | Similar in meaning to 'under review,' but slightly more formal. |
| being assessed | Emphasizes the evaluation aspect of the process. |
| being evaluated | Very close in meaning to 'being assessed,' but slightly more formal. |
| under investigation | Suggests a more serious or critical review, often implying potential wrongdoing. |
| pending review | Emphasizes that the review process is expected or scheduled to happen soon or is in progress. |
| in the process of being reviewed | A more verbose alternative that emphasizes the ongoing nature of the review. |
| Expression | Meaning | Grammatical Pattern | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| currently under review | presently being examined or assessed | adverb + prepositional phrase (adjective phrase) | neutral to formal |
No, the phrase "currently under review" functions as a unit. You cannot insert words between "under" and "review" or between "currently" and the rest of the phrase without changing the meaning or making the sentence grammatically incorrect. The adverb "currently" modifies the entire prepositional phrase.
Both phrases indicate that something is being thought about, but "currently under review" suggests a more formal and structured process of evaluation. "Under consideration" can be used in more general contexts where a decision is being weighed, even without a specific review process in place.
While "currently being reviewed" is grammatically correct, "currently under review" is often preferred because it's more concise and idiomatic. Using the passive voice "currently being reviewed" can sometimes sound less direct than the active voice implied by "currently under review".
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