now

[nou]

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adverb

at the present time or moment: You are now using a dictionary.

without further delay; immediately; at once: Either do it now or not at all.

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.

at the time or moment immediately past: I saw him just now on the street.

in these present times; nowadays: Now you rarely see horse-drawn carriages.

under the present or existing circumstances; as matters stand: I see now what you meant.

(used to introduce a statement or question): Now, you don't really mean that.

(used to strengthen a command, entreaty, or the like): Now stop that!

conjunction

inasmuch as; since: Now you're here, why not stay for dinner?

noun

the present time or moment: Up to now no one has volunteered.

adjective

up-to-the-minute; encompassing the latest ideas, fads, or fashions: the now look; the now generation.

Idioms

now and again, occasionally.Also now and then.

now that, inasmuch as; since: Now that she is rich and famous, she is constantly being besieged by appeals for aid.

Origin of now

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

Related formsnow·ness, noun

Can be confusedcurrently immediately momentarily now presently soon (see synonym study at immediately) (see usage note at presently)

NOW

[nou]

National Organization for Women.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for now

today, straightaway, forthwith, directly, immediately, instantly, nowadays, away, momentarily, promptly, pronto, soon, PDQ, instanter, presently

Examples from the Web for now

Contemporary Examples of now

Submission is set in a France seven years from now that is dominated by a Muslim president intent on imposing Islamic law.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President
Pierre Assouline
January 9, 2015
His discourse is now more detailed: submission, which is the meaning of islam in Arabic, gives him a kind of enjoyment.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President
Pierre Assouline
January 9, 2015
He looks like a man who should have had kids, but now never will.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists
Michael Daly
January 9, 2015
And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!
Olivia Nuzzi
January 8, 2015
I wonder what that lady is doing now, and if she knows what she set in motion with Archer?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS
Marlow Stern
January 8, 2015

Historical Examples of now

At length the servant returned, saying his master was now ready to see them.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
This trained neutrality of Mrs. Bines served her finely now.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
The reason I write promptly is that you may not go out of the country just now.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Now you and sis never get up with any such light poetic notion as that.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
The impulse that had prompted him to hail her now prompted wild words.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for now

now

adverb

at or for the present time or moment

at this exact moment; immediately

in these times; nowadays

given the present circumstancesnow we'll have to stay to the end

(preceded by just) very recentlyhe left just now

(often preceded by just) very soonhe is leaving just now

now and again, now and then, every now and again or every now and then occasionally; on and off

for now for the time being

now now! (interjection) an exclamation used to rebuke or pacify someone

now then

(sentence connector)used to preface an important remark, the next step in an argument, etc
(interjection)an expression of mild reproofnow then, don't tease!

conjunction

(subordinating often foll by that) seeing that; since it has become the case thatnow you're in charge, things will be better

sentence connector

used as a transitional particle or hesitation wordnow, I can't really say
used for emphasisnow listen to this
used at the end of a command, esp in dismissalrun along, now

noun

the present moment or timenow is the time to go

adjective

informal of the moment; fashionablethe now look is street fashion

Word Origin for now

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

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

Word Origin and History for now

adv.

Old English nu "now, at present, immediately; now that," also used as an interjection and as an introductory word; common Germanic (cf. Old Norse nu, Dutch nu, Old Frisian nu, German nun, Gothic nu "now"), from PIE *nu "now" (cf. Sanskrit and Avestan nu, Old Persian nuram, Hittite nuwa, Greek nu, nun, Latin nunc, Old Church Slavonic nyne, Lithuanian nu, Old Irish nu-). Perhaps originally "newly, recently," and related to the root of new.

Often merely emphatic; non-temporal usage (cf. Now, then) was in Old English. The adjective meaning "up to date" first recorded 1967, but the word was used also as an adjective in Middle English with the sense "current" from late 14c. Now and then "occasionally" is from 1530s; now or never attested from 1550s.

Idioms and Phrases with now

now

In addition to the idioms beginning with now

now and again
now or never, it's
now that
now you're talking

also see:

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