again

American  

[uh-gen, uh-geyn] / əˈgɛn, əˈgeɪn /

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.

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idioms

1. as much again, twice as much.

   She earns as much again as I do.

2. again and again, with frequent repetition; often.

   They went over the same arguments again and again.

again British  

/ 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. continuously; repeatedly

8. (used with a negative) any more; any longer

   I don't eat pumpkin again

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1. moreover; furthermore

   again, it could be said that he is not dead

again More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing again

• 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

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Pronunciation

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

Etymology

Origin of again

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

Explanation

When you repeat something or it happens more than once, it happens again. Every morning you wake up again. When you return to something or somewhere, you go back again. If someone sees you every day, they might say "You again?" Some dogs bark again and again and again — they just keep barking. In sports, some teams keep wining again and again. If something happens just once, it doesn't happen again. Sometimes this word is used when you want someone to repeat information, as in "So how are you two related again?"

Example Sentences

Again, and again and again, our constitutional structure is a testament to the idea that if men were angels, we wouldn’t need government.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Again, the egg timer really works only in a single direction.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

At her Los Angeles shows, Rodrigo will be joined by openers the Last Dinner Party and Devon Again.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Brown, meanwhile, continued to achieve success with Hot Chocolate, scoring hits like Every 1's A Winner and So You Win Again.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Again I was on a sled, moving through the night.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Related Words

• anew
• over
• repeatedly