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Definition of 'now'

Word Frequency

now

(naʊ )
1. adverb
You use now to refer to the present time, often in contrast to a time in the past or the future.
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.
Now is also a pronoun.
Now is the time when we must all live as economically as possible.
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
You use now or now that to indicate that an event has occurred and as a result something else may or will happen.
Now you're settled, why don't you take up some serious study?
Now that she was retired she lived with her sister.
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
In stories and accounts of past events, now is used to refer to the particular time that is being written or spoken about.
She felt a little better now.
It was too late now for Blake to lock his room door.
By now it was completely dark outside.
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]
Some people say 'Now' when they are thinking of what to say next.
[spoken]
Now, er, dogs can live to fifteen.
Now, erm, obviously some of our listeners may have some ideas.
9. adverb
You use now to give a slight emphasis to a request or command.
[spoken]
Come on now. You know you must be hungry.
Come and sit down here, now.
Now don't talk so loud and bother him, honey.
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. 
now and again
13. 
any day/moment/time now
14. 
now for
15. 
just now
16. 
just now
17. 
it's now or never
18. 
now, now
19. 
now, now
More Synonyms of now
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'now'

Word Frequency

now in British

(naʊ )
adverb
1. 
at or for the present time or moment
2. 
at this exact moment; immediately
3. 
in these times; nowadays
4. 
given the present circumstances
now we'll have to stay to the end
5. (preceded by just)
very recently
she left just now
6. (often preceded by just)
very soon
he is leaving just now
7.  now and again
8.  for now
9.  now now!
10.  now then
conjunction
11. (subordinating; often foll by that)
seeing that; since it has become the case that
now you're in charge, things will be better
sentence connector
12. 
a. 
used as a transitional particle or hesitation word
now, I can't really say
b. 
used for emphasis
now listen to this
c. 
used at the end of a command, esp in dismissal
run along, now
noun
13. 
the present moment or time
now is the time to go
adjective
14. informal
of the moment; fashionable
the now look is street fashion
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'now'
Old English nū; compare Old Saxon nū, German nun, Latin nunc, Greek nu
Word Frequency

NOW in American

(naʊ ; nou)
1. 
National Organization for Women
2. 
negotiable order of withdrawal
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency

now in American

(naʊ ; nou)
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.,
a. 
very recently; not long ago
with just
he left just now
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
7. 
of the present or current time
the now generation
interjection
8. 
used to signify warning, reproach, etc.
now, be careful!
9. 
used with no definite meaning, to provide emphasis or to preface or resume one's remarks
now, I'd been waiting a long time for a chance to get even with him
10. 
used to express sympathy, concern, consolation, etc. when repeated
now, now—it's not so bad after all!
Idioms:
now and then
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'now'
ME < OE nu, akin to ON Goth, OHG nu < IE base *nu- > Gr nu, L nunc

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. Oliver Poole 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. Zindell, David 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. Atkinson, Jacqueline M 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'

British English: now /naʊ/ ADVERB
You use now to talk about the present time.
I must go 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

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Nearby words of 'now'

  • Novokuznetsk
  • Novosibirsk
  • novum
  • now
  • now and again
  • now and then
  • now for

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'N'

Related Terms of 'now'

  • now-now
  • now, now
  • now now!
  • for now
  • how now?

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of now from the Collins English Dictionary

The subjunctive

The subjunctive was formerly used in English for situations that were improbable or that expressed a wish. It is only rarely used in modern British English. It is, however, found in certain set phras...
Read more about 'The subjunctive'
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Scrabble score for 'now': 6
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