now

1 of 5

adverb

ˈnau̇ 

1

a

: at the present time or moment

Now is the time for action.

b

: in the time immediately before the present

thought of them just now

c

: in the time immediately to follow : forthwith

come in now

2

—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost to express command, request, or admonition

now hear this

now you be sure to write

3

—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost to introduce an important point or indicate a transition (as of ideas)

now, this may seem reasonable at first

4

: sometimes

now one and now another

5

: under the present circumstances

Since my plan has failed, we must now try his.

6

: at the time referred to

now the trouble began

7

: by this time

has been teaching now for twenty years

now

2 of 5

conjunction

: in view of the fact that : since

—often followed by that

now that we are here

now

3 of 5

noun

: the present time or moment

been ill up to now

now

4 of 5

adjective

1

: of or relating to the present time : existing

the now president

2

a

: excitingly new

now clothes

b

: constantly aware of what is new

now people

the now generation

NOW

5 of 5

abbreviation

National Organization for Women

Synonyms

Adverb

• anymore
• currently
• nowadays
• presently
• right now
• today

Conjunction

• 'cause
• as
• as long as
• because
• being (as or as how or that) [chiefly dialect]
• considering
• for
• inasmuch as
• seeing
• since
• whereas

Noun

• here and now
• moment
• present
• today

Adjective

• au courant
• cool [slang]
• def [slang]
• downtown
• groovy
• hep
• hip
• in
• mod
• trendy
• turned-on
• with-it

Examples of now in a Sentence

Adverb

We were having trouble before, but everything's okay now.

I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

I love you now and I'll love you forever.

Now's the time for action.

“And now,” he said, “all we have to do is wait.”

“Can we talk?” “Not now. I'm really busy.”

He knows now that he was wrong.

Police have now identified the man who they believe stole the car.

Scientists now believe that the bones belong to a different species of reptile.

the now famous photograph of an American sailor kissing his young wife

Conjunction

Now you mention it, I am kind of hungry.

I'll repeat my question now that you are paying attention.

Noun

A lot of things can happen between now and then.

The kids are supposed to be in bed by now.

That's enough for now, but we may need some more later.

Things are fine for now.

Fifty years from now you'll be telling your grandchildren about this day.

She's due back a week from now.

We'll be here from now until November.

From now on, no one can use my car without my permission.

Adjective

questioned the moral values of the now generation

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Dennis Perry, who is now 62, was convicted of two counts of homicide in 2003 but he was released in 2020 after his conviction was overturned, in part because reporting by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution cast doubt on an alibi that Mr. Sparre had used when he was investigated after the killings. —Hank Sanders, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024

This contract now marks the fourth big-league free-agent contract that Eovaldi has signed. —Sam Blum, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024

Noun

The Padres are built to win now and this is a win-now type of trade that hurts but makes an immediate difference. —Jim Bowden, The Athletic, 25 July 2024

Pugh and Braff's red carpet appearance was the first time the now-exes have done a public appearance together. —Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2023

Adjective

After Keoghan had a son with his now ex-partner Alyson Sandro in August 2022, the pair broke up the following summer. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024

This came after Grande separated from her now ex-husband, Dalton Gomez and Slater separated from his now ex-wife, Lilly Jay. —Staff Author, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb, Conjunction, Noun, and Adjective

Middle English, from Old English nū; akin to Old High German nū now, Latin nunc, Greek nyn

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Conjunction

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing now

• any day now
• any second now
• (at) any minute (now)
• (at) any moment (now)
• don't look now
• even now/then
• every now and again
• every now and then
• from now on
• from now until doomsday
• here and now
• if looks could kill, I'd be dead right now
• just now
• now and then
• now, now
• now you're talking
• right now

Kids Definition

now

1 of 4 adverb

(ˈ)nau̇ 

1

a

: at the present time

they are busy now

b

: in the time immediately before the present

thought of them just now

c

: in the time immediately to follow

come in now

2

—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost (as to express command or introduce an important point)

now hear this

3

: sometimes

now one and now another

4

: under the present circumstances

now the trouble began

5

: by this time

has been teaching now for twenty years

now

2 of 4 conjunction

: in view of the fact that : since

—often followed by that

now that we are here

now

3 of 4 noun

ˈnau̇

: the present time

been ill up to now

now

4 of 4 adjective

ˈnau̇

: of or relating to the present time : existing

the now president