again

[ uh-gen, uh-geyn ]

adverb

1. once more; another time; anew; in addition:

   Will you spell your name again, please?

2. in an additional case or instance; moreover; besides; furthermore.
3. on the other hand:

   It might happen, and again it might not.

4. in return; back; in reply:

   to answer again.

5. to the same place or person:

   to return again.

again

/ əˈɡeɪn; əˈɡɛn /

adverb

1. another or second time; once more; anew

   he had to start again

2. once more in a previously experienced or encountered place, state, or condition

   he is ill again

   he came back again

3. in addition to the original amount, quantity, etc (esp in the phrases as much again; half as much again )
4. sentence modifier on the other hand

   he might come and then again he might not

5. besides; also

   she is beautiful and, again, intelligent

6. archaic.
   in reply; back

   he answered again to the questioning voice

7. again and again
   continuously; repeatedly
8. used with a negative any more; any longer

   I don't eat pumpkin again

sentence connector

1. moreover; furthermore

   again, it could be said that he is not dead

Pronunciation Note

By far the most common pronunciation of again, in all parts of the United States, is [uh, -, gen], with the same vowel heard in yet and pep. The pronunciation [uh, -, geyn], rhyming with pain, occurs chiefly in the Atlantic states. Again said as [uh, -, gin], with the vowel of pit or sip, or with a vowel somewhere between [e] and [i], is the common pronunciation in much of the South, where [e] and [i] tend to become neutralized, or more like one another, before [m] and [n], leading to a lack of noticeable distinction between such pairs as pen and pin, ten and tin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of again¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English agayn, ageyn, Old English ongegn “opposite (to),” equivalent to on “ on, in” ( a- ¹ ) + gegn “straigh”t; cognate with Old High German ingagan, Old Norse igegn

Word History and Origins

Origin of again¹

Old English ongegn opposite to, from a- ² + gegn straight

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. again and again, with frequent repetition; often:

   They went over the same arguments again and again.

2. as much again, twice as much:

   She earns as much again as I do.

More idioms and phrases containing again

In addition to the idiom beginning with again , also see come again ; do something over again ; ever and again ; every now and again ; here someone goes again ; now and again ; off and on (off again, on again) ; over again ; something else again ; time and time again ; you can say that again .

Related Words

• also
• further
• then