now

[ nou ]

/ naʊ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR now ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

novoshakhtinsk, novosibirsk, novotný, novum organum, novus ordo seclorum, now, now account, now and again, now i lay me down to sleep, now or never, it's, now that

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 forms

now·ness, noun

Can be confused

currently immediately momentarily now presently soon (see synonym study at immediately) (see usage note at presently)

Definition for now (2 of 2)

NOW

[ nou ]

/ naʊ /

National Organization for Women.

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Evil is devised against you—evil you are powerless now to resist.
Pabo, The Priest|Sabine Baring-Gould
I shall take my own course now; without the smallest consideration for your crotchets.
Perlycross|R. D. Blackmore
They're always telling me the world is changed, and I begin to see it now.'
Lord Kilgobbin|Charles Lever
Now I had never thought of such a thing until he suggested it.
The Story of Scraggles|George Wharton James
Finding that the propeller would now work, Captain Williamson gave orders for full speed astern.
First at the North Pole|Edward Stratemeyer

British Dictionary definitions for now

now

/ (naʊ) /

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

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