again

[ uh-gen, uh-geyn ]

/ əˈgɛn, əˈgeɪn /

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See synonyms for again on Thesaurus.com

adverb

once more; another time; anew; in addition: Will you spell your name again, please?

in an additional case or instance; moreover; besides; furthermore.

on the other hand: It might happen, and again it might not.

in return; back; in reply: to answer again.

to the same place or person: to return again.

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There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about again

again and again, with frequent repetition; often: They went over the same arguments again and again.

as much again, twice as much: She earns as much again as I do.

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

how to pronounce again

By far the most common pronunciation of again, in all parts of the United States, is

[uh-gen], /əˈgɛn/, with the same vowel heard in yet and pep. The pronunciation

[uh-geyn], /əˈgeɪn/, rhyming with pain, occurs chiefly in the Atlantic states. Again said as

[uh-gin], /əˈgɪn/, with the vowel of pit or sip, or with a vowel somewhere between [e] /ɛ/ and [i], /ɪ/, is the common pronunciation in much of the South, where [e] /ɛ/ and [i] /ɪ/ tend to become neutralized, or more like one another, before [m] /m/ and [n], /n/, leading to a lack of noticeable distinction between such pairs as pen and pin, ten and tin.

Words nearby again

ag, aga, Agabus, Agadir, Agag, again, again and again, against, against all odds, against one's better judgment, against one's will

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use again in a sentence

Meanwhile, almost exactly 30 years after the trial, the judge left his home to board a steamboat and was never heard from again.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Again, the difference can seem subtle and sound more like splitting hairs, but the difference is important.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Then they came up against a police patrol on mountain bicycles, which again led to more shooting, without injuries.
Police Hunt for Paris Massacre Suspects|Tracy McNicoll, Christopher Dickey|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At a press conference today with Scalise, Speaker Boehner again defended him.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

We take enough time off in between so that our batteries get recharged and we get inspired again.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Each day she resolved, "To-morrow I will tell Felipe;" and when to-morrow came, she put it off again.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
And that was that if he and his wife were to ever live together again and be happy, the family were to be kept out of it.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
"Better so," was the Senora's sole reply; and she fell again into still deeper, more perplexed thought about the hidden treasure.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Before the outlaw can comply with this small request the horn sounds again.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")

British Dictionary definitions for again

again

/ (əˈɡɛn, əˈɡeɪn) /

adverb

another or second time; once more; anewhe had to start again

once more in a previously experienced or encountered place, state, or conditionhe is ill again; he came back again

in addition to the original amount, quantity, etc (esp in the phrases as much again; half as much again)

(sentence modifier) on the other handhe might come and then again he might not

besides; alsoshe is beautiful and, again, intelligent

archaic in reply; backhe answered again to the questioning voice

again and again continuously; repeatedly

(used with a negative) Caribbean any more; any longerI don't eat pumpkin again

sentence connector

moreover; furthermoreagain, it could be said that he is not dead

Word Origin for again

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with again

again

In addition to the idiom beginning with again

again and 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

again

Idioms about again

Origin of again

how to pronounce again

Words nearby again

Words related to again

How to use again in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for again

Word Origin for again

Other Idioms and Phrases with again