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Synonyms

now

1 American  
[nou] / naʊ /

adverb

  1. at the present time or moment.

    You are now using a dictionary.

  2. without further delay; immediately; at once.

    Either do it now or not at all.

  3. 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.

  4. at the time or moment immediately past.

    I saw him just now on the street.

  5. in these present times; nowadays.

    Now you rarely see horse-drawn carriages.

  6. under the present or existing circumstances; as matters stand.

    I see now what you meant.

  7. (used to introduce a statement or question).

    Now, you don't really mean that.

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

    Now stop that!

conjunction

  1. inasmuch as; since.

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

noun

  1. the present time or moment.

    Up to now no one has volunteered.

adjective

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

    the now look; the now generation.

idioms

  1. now and again, occasionally. Also now and then.

  2. now that, inasmuch as; since.

    Now that she is rich and famous, she is constantly being besieged by appeals for aid.
NOW 2 American  
[nou] / naʊ /

noun

  1. National Organization for Women.

now 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

    he left just now

  6. (often preceded by just) very soon

    he is leaving just now

  7. occasionally; on and off

  8. for the time being

  9. (interjection) an exclamation used to rebuke or pacify someone

    1. (sentence connector) used to preface an important remark, the next step in an argument, etc

    2. (interjection) an expression of mild reproof

      now then, don't tease!
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

conjunction

  1. seeing that; since it has become the case that

    now you're in charge, things will be better
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    1. used as a transitional particle or hesitation word

      now, I can't really say

    2. used for emphasis

      now listen to this

    3. used at the end of a command, esp in dismissal

      run along, now
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the present moment or time

    now is the time to go
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. informal of the moment; fashionable

    the now look is street fashion
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
now More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing now

Other Word Forms

  • nowness noun

Etymology

Origin of now

First recorded before 900; 1965–70 now 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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“They’re no longer with us, but it feels important that I think of them now. I feel them here tonight. They would be happy for me,” Ford said.

From Los Angeles Times

“That’s what I always wanted and that kid from Newark, New Jersey’s standing here right now.”

From Los Angeles Times

BYD, now the world’s biggest EV seller, overtaking Tesla, sold a total of 190,190 vehicles in February, down 41% from a year earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a nondescript warehouse near Munich, a newly opened factory now churns out drones with proprietary Ukrainian engineering.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Like many people in this room can understand, we nipped the SAG and now it’s just the Actor Awards.”

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.