now

¹

[ nou ]

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.

NOW

²

[ nou ]

noun

1. National Organization for Women.

now

/ 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. now and again
   now and againnow and thenevery now and againevery now and then occasionally; on and off
8. for now
   for now for the time being
9. now now!
   now now! interjection an exclamation used to rebuke or pacify someone
10. now then
    now then
    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!

conjunction

1. subordinatingoften foll bythat seeing that; since it has become the case that

   now you're in charge, things will be better

sentence connector

1. 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

noun

1. the present moment or time

   now is the time to go

adjective

1. informal.
   of the moment; fashionable

   the now look is street fashion

Other Words From

• nowness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of now¹

First recorded before 900; 1965–70 now fordef 11; Middle English; Old English nū, cognate with Old Norse, Gothic nū; akin to German nun, Latin num, Sanskrit nu, Greek nú, nûn

Word History and Origins

Origin of now¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing now

• any day (now)
• every now and then
• here and now
• just now

Example Sentences

I had to stretch to work some of those clues in, like the Erie reference in the NOW clue and the Pinkie Pie reference in the SIS clue, but I did my best to make most of those clues sound natural.

From Washington Post

Submission is set in a France seven years from now that is dominated by a Muslim president intent on imposing Islamic law.

From The Daily Beast

His discourse is now more detailed: submission, which is the meaning of islam in Arabic, gives him a kind of enjoyment.

From The Daily Beast

He looks like a man who should have had kids, but now never will.

From The Daily Beast

And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"

From The Daily Beast

I wonder what that lady is doing now, and if she knows what she set in motion with Archer?

From The Daily Beast

This is the first and principal point at which we can stanch the wastage of teaching energy that now goes on.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, it immediately occurred to Davy that he had never in his whole life had all the plums he wanted at any one time.

From Project Gutenberg

Now first we shall want our pupil to understand, speak, read and write the mother tongue well.

From Project Gutenberg

Not a word now,” cried Longcluse harshly, extending his hand quickly towards him; “I may do that which can't be undone.

From Project Gutenberg

Every word that now fell from the agitated Empress was balm to the affrighted nerves of her daughter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• today