Definition of 'now'
1. adverb
She's a widow now.
But we are now a much more fragmented society.
Coffee now costs well over 3 dollars a kilo.
She should know that by now.
2. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you do something now, you do it immediately.
I'm sorry, but I must go now.
I fear that if I don't write now I shall never have another opportunity to do so.
Now is also a pronoun.
Now is your chance to talk to him.
3. conjunction
4. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use now to indicate that a particular situation is the result of something that has recently happened.
She told me not to repeat it, but now I don't suppose it matters.
Diplomats now expect the mission to be much less ambitious.
5. adverb
6. adverb [ADVERB with verb, noun ADVERB]
You use now in statements which specify the length of time up to the present that something has lasted.
They've been married now for 30 years.
They have been missing for a long time now.
It's some days now since I heard anything.
7. adverb
You say 'Now' or 'Now then' to indicate to the person or people you are with that you want their attention, or that you are about to change the subject.
[spoken] 'Now then,' Max said, 'to get back to the point.'
She stays at school for drama and doesn't get back till nine. Now, what's everyone
drinking?
Now then, laddie, what's the trouble?
Now, can we move on and discuss the vital business of the day, please.
8. adverb [ADVERB cl]
9. adverb
10. adverb
You can say 'Now' to introduce information which is relevant to the part of a story or account that you have reached, and which needs to be known before you can continue.
[spoken] My son went to Almeria in Southern Spain. Now he is someone who loves a quiet holiday.
Now, I hadn't told him these details, so he must have done some research on his own.
11. adverb
You say 'Now' to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said.
[spoken] Now, if it was me, I'd want to do more than just change the locks.
12.
14.
15.
16.
18.
19.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'now'
adverb
2.
at this exact moment; immediately
3.
in these times; nowadays
5. (preceded by just)
very recently
she left just now
8. for now
9. now now!
10. now then
conjunction
sentence connector
noun
13.
the present moment or time
now is the time to go
adjective
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'now'
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
adverb
1.
a.
at the present time; at this moment
b.
at once
2.
at the time referred to; then; next
now his joy began
3.
at a time very close to the present
; specif.,
b.
very soon
often with just they are leaving just now
4.
given the situation; with things as they are
now we'll never know what happened
conjunction
5.
since; seeing that
now you've arrived, I can stop worrying
noun
6.
the present time
that's all for now
adjective
interjection
9.
now, I'd been waiting a long time for a chance to get even with him
10.
now, now—it's not so bad after all!
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'now'
Example sentences containing 'now'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
Read more…
What is now easy used to be difficult. Times, Sunday Times (2017)What does the world need right now? Times, Sunday Times (2016)We need to go on a run now. The Sun (2016)What will my life look like now? Times, Sunday Times (2016)The option of share buybacks looks tricky just now because of notional losses on recent buybacks. Times, Sunday Times (2017)That offer you waited for may now come through. The Sun (2016)The curfew is now back in place in three areas. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The merger could now face months of delays. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Now it is time to focus on the power of vegetables. Times, Sunday Times (2017)It is now 15 years since that terrible day. Times, Sunday Times (2016)There was little finesse now used to clear an area. BLACK KNIGHTS: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad (2003) Right now that sounds a fair bit more appealing than dodging wildebeest. Times, Sunday Times (2016)We now find ourselves looking for hope. Christianity Today (2000)Now they are just three points above the drop zone. The Sun (2014)You may step now directly to your cars. Times, Sunday Times (2010)They are now back behind bars where they belong. Times, Sunday Times (2012)You look around here and most of the people have got a smile on their faces now. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Now is the time to plant asparagus for a crop next year. Times, Sunday Times (2009)These horses now have to take the next step. Times, Sunday Times (2009)She was off work for one year but is now fully recovered and has a beautiful daughter. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Now you should go home and sleep. The Broken God (1993)Now it becomes clear that any number of politicians are in the frame. Times, Sunday Times (2006)The web is all about the now. Times, Sunday Times (2014)You imply the other person must now agree with you. Coping with Stress at Work (1988)Now you can use them at home to give a rosy hue to your festive champagne. Times, Sunday Times (2007)They are now on the run. Times, Sunday Times (2012)But it is now 112 games since his last league goal. The Sun (2012)Now she says she wants us to be together, that it was all down to stress. The Sun (2010)
Trends of 'now'
Extremely Common. now is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
View usage for:
Translations for 'now'
- American English: now
- Arabic: الآن
- Brazilian Portuguese: agora
- Chinese: 现在
- Croatian: sada
- Czech: nyní
- Danish: nu
- Dutch: nu
- European Spanish: ahora
- Finnish: nyt
- French: maintenant
- German: jetzt
- Greek: τώρα
- Italian: ora
- Japanese: 今
- Korean: 지금
- Norwegian: nå
- Polish: teraz
- European Portuguese: agora
- Romanian: acum
- Russian: сейчас
- Spanish: ahora
- Swedish: nu
- Thai: เดี๋ยวนี้
- Turkish: şimdi
- Ukrainian: тепер
- Vietnamese: bây giờ
Nearby words of 'now'
Source
Definition of now from the
Collins English Dictionary
New collocations added to dictionary
Collocations are words that are often used together and are brilliant at providing natural sounding language for your speech and writing.
Read more
Unlock language with the Paul Noble method
No books. No rote memorization. No chance of failure. Your chance to have a one-to-one lesson with best-selling language expert Paul Noble, try a FREE audio sample of his brand new Mandarin Chinese course.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
13th edition of the Collins Dictionary out now!
Updated with all the very latest new words and senses, this new 13th edition is an unparalleled resource for word lovers, word gamers, and word geeks everywhere.
#homeoflivingenglish
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more