again
Americanadverb
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once more; another time; anew; in addition.
Will you spell your name again, please?
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in an additional case or instance; moreover; besides; furthermore.
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on the other hand.
It might happen, and again it might not.
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in return; back; in reply.
to answer again.
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to the same place or person.
to return again.
idioms
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as much again, twice as much.
She earns as much again as I do.
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again and again, with frequent repetition; often.
They went over the same arguments again and again.
adverb
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another or second time; once more; anew
he had to start again
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once more in a previously experienced or encountered place, state, or condition
he is ill again
he came back again
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in addition to the original amount, quantity, etc (esp in the phrases as much again; half as much again )
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(sentence modifier) on the other hand
he might come and then again he might not
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besides; also
she is beautiful and, again, intelligent
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archaic in reply; back
he answered again to the questioning voice
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continuously; repeatedly
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(used with a negative) any more; any longer
I don't eat pumpkin again
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Drain the water. Clean up the fireworks stuff. Repair the vandalism that was done. Fill it back up again," Burgum said.
From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026
We raised a generation insulated from failure, from consequence, from the experience of working for something, failing and trying again.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 9, 2026
There’s one way to make sure this doesn’t happen again, and that’s to contact the loan servicer directly, explain why you missed your payment and ensure they have your up-to-date contact details.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 9, 2026
After such a devastating loss, she found it difficult to trust the world again.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026
After we clock out and head home, I try again.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
