now

[nou] /naʊ/

adverb

at the present time or moment:

You are now using a dictionary.

without further delay; immediately; at once:

Either do it now or not at all.

at this time or juncture in some period under consideration or in some course of proceedings described:

The case was now ready for the jury.

at the time or moment immediately past:

I saw him just now on the street.

in these present times; nowadays:

Now you rarely see horse-drawn carriages.

under the present or existing circumstances; as matters stand:

I see now what you meant.

(used to introduce a statement or question):

Now, you don't really mean that.

(used to strengthen a command, entreaty, or the like):

Now stop that!

conjunction

inasmuch as; since:

Now you're here, why not stay for dinner?

noun

10.

the present time or moment:

Up to now no one has volunteered.

adjective

11.

up-to-the-minute; encompassing the latest ideas, fads, or fashions:

the now look; the now generation.

Idioms

12.

now and again, occasionally.

Also, now and then.

13.

now that, inasmuch as; since:

Now that she is rich and famous, she is constantly being besieged by appeals for aid.

Origin

before 900; 1965-70 for def 11; Middle English; Old English nū, cognate with Old Norse, Gothic nū; akin to German nun, Latin num, Sanskrit nu, Greek nú, nûn

Related forms

nowness, noun

Can be confused

currently, immediately, momentarily, now, presently, soon (see synonym study at immediately; see usage note at presently)

British Dictionary definitions for now and again

now

/naʊ/

adverb

at or for the present time or moment

at this exact moment; immediately

in these times; nowadays

given the present circumstances: now we'll have to stay to the end

(preceded by just) very recently: he left just now

(often preceded by just) very soon: he is leaving just now

now and again, now and then, every now and again, every now and then, occasionally; on and off

for now, for the time being

(interjection) now now!, an exclamation used to rebuke or pacify someone

10.

now then

(sentence connector) used to preface an important remark, the next step in an argument, etc
(interjection) an expression of mild reproof: now then, don't tease!

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.

used as a transitional particle or hesitation word: now, I can't really say
used for emphasis: now listen to this
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

Word Origin

Old English nū; compare Old Saxon nū, German nun, Latin nunc, Greek nu

Word Origin and History for now and again

now

adv.

Old English nu "now, at present, immediately; now that," also used as an interjection and as an introductory word; common Germanic (cf. Old Norse nu, Dutch nu, Old Frisian nu, German nun, Gothic nu "now"), from PIE *nu "now" (cf. Sanskrit and Avestan nu, Old Persian nuram, Hittite nuwa, Greek nu, nun, Latin nunc, Old Church Slavonic nyne, Lithuanian nu, Old Irish nu-). Perhaps originally "newly, recently," and related to the root of new.

Often merely emphatic; non-temporal usage (cf. Now, then) was in Old English. The adjective meaning "up to date" first recorded 1967, but the word was used also as an adjective in Middle English with the sense "current" from late 14c. Now and then "occasionally" is from 1530s; now or never attested from 1550s.

Slang definitions & phrases for now and again

now

adjective

Up-to-date; very much au courant; thoroughly modern: tripping out on now words/ the Right On, Now Generation (1967+)

Related Abbreviations for now and again

NOW

National Organization for Women

Idioms and Phrases with now and again

now and again

Also, now and then . See every now and then

now

also see: