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definitions

now

[nou]
See more synonyms for now on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. at the present time or moment: You are now using a dictionary.
  2. without further delay; immediately; at once: Either do it now or not at all.
  3. 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.
  4. at the time or moment immediately past: I saw him just now on the street.
  5. in these present times; nowadays: Now you rarely see horse-drawn carriages.
  6. under the present or existing circumstances; as matters stand: I see now what you meant.
  7. (used to introduce a statement or question): Now, you don't really mean that.
  8. (used to strengthen a command, entreaty, or the like): Now stop that!
conjunction
  1. inasmuch as; since: Now you're here, why not stay for dinner?
noun
  1. the present time or moment: Up to now no one has volunteered.
adjective
  1. up-to-the-minute; encompassing the latest ideas, fads, or fashions: the now look; the now generation.
Idioms
  1. now and again, occasionally.Also now and then.
  2. 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]
  1. National Organization for Women.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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

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
  1. at or for the present time or moment
  2. at this exact moment; immediately
  3. in these times; nowadays
  4. given the present circumstancesnow we'll have to stay to the end
  5. (preceded by just) very recentlyhe left just now
  6. (often preceded by just) very soonhe is leaving just now
  7. now and again, now and then, every now and again or every now and then occasionally; on and off
  8. for now for the time being
  9. now now! (interjection) an exclamation used to rebuke or pacify someone
  10. now then
    1. (sentence connector)used to preface an important remark, the next step in an argument, etc
    2. (interjection)an expression of mild reproofnow then, don't tease!
conjunction
  1. (subordinating often foll by that) seeing that; since it has become the case thatnow you're in charge, things will be better
sentence connector
    1. used as a transitional particle or hesitation wordnow, I can't really say
    2. used for emphasisnow listen to this
    3. used at the end of a command, esp in dismissalrun along, now
noun
  1. the present moment or timenow is the time to go
adjective
  1. 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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.