Pronunciations (4)
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/naʊ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
- Ireland
- Received-Pronunciation
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/nuː/
Pronunciation notes
- Northumbria
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/næʊ/
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/nɛʊ/
Adjective
Present; current.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
[…] to my now wife Mabell, my child Elisabeth, & my child now begotten, &c., and they to be joint Exõrs, & if all die, then the same jointly to my brother William Every & my sisters Sarah Skibbowe & Joan Brice.
Defects seem as necessary to our now happiness as their Opposites.
More examples (1)
The history of the infant colonies teaches us that the country comprised within the limits of the now United States of America was originally patented in the reign of James I., of England, into two portions: that in less than eighty years from that period, the same was again divided into twelve distinct provinces; a thirteenth being after added in the creation of the State of Georgia.
Where in assumpsit for money lent, the defendant pleaded that in an action in which the now defendant was plaintiff, and the now plaintiff was defendant,[…].
More examples (2)
Radio 4's continuity announcer said at the end of the show: "As many of you will have noticed, that edition of The Now Show wasn't very now. It was actually last week's programme. Our apologies for that."
For example, the organization has groundlessly denounced Elon Musk, a powerful libertarian voice, as an antisemite in a baldfaced effort to drain his social network, X, of advertising revenue. Yet, when now-Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) came to the defense of his uncle for antisemitic remarks he made in the ’90s, the organization refused to condemn him.
Fashionable; popular; up to date; current.
Usage- Informal
- not-comparable
- Examples
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I think this band's sound is very now.
More examples (1)
ADAM: I was just thinking, I... (sees the lyre) Hey, brother, do you play? Is it Vulcan? Can I try it? // (Spock gestures his permission and Adam strums a chord) // ADAM: Ho ho, that's now! That's real now! I reach that, brother. I really do. // (He hands the lyre to Spock who plays it briefly)
Bernard: What does it do? Fran: It's very in. Bernard: You don't know what it is, do you? Fran: It's very now.
Adverb
At the present time.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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We can leave now.
Now I am six.
Stop that now, Jimmy!
More examples (2)
I could have been Secretary of State now if I hadn’t left politics five years ago.
We can’t phone now – they will certainly have gone to bed.
Used to introduce a point, a qualification of what has previously been said, a remonstration or a rebuke.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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Now, let us look at the next question.
Now, we all want what is best for our children.
Now, Jimmy, stop that.
More examples (2)
Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.
“I don’t stare at her,” Steve insisted quickly. “It’s just that every once in a while she is looking at me when I look out the window.” / “A peeping Thomasina.” / “Now, Harry.” / “Well, it’s her name. Elizabeth Thomas.”
Differently from the immediate past; differently from a more remote past or a possible future; differently from all other times.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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Now I am ready.
We all now want the latest toys for our children.
More examples (2)
We all want what is now best for our children.
Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.
At the time reached within a narration.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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It was now dark, so they went home.
Now he remembered why he had come.
He now asked her whether she had made pudding.
More examples (1)
The pudding was now ready to be served.
Used to indicate a context of urgency.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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Please stop now!
Now listen, we must do something about this.
At the present point of a recurring cycle or event.
Usage- Informal
- not-comparable
- Examples
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I always used to do my shopping now, to avoid the rush.
Very recently; not long ago; up to the present.
Usage- not-comparable
- Obsolete
- as but now
- Examples
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They that but now, for honour and for plate, / Made the sea blush with blood, resign their hate.
Used to address a switching side, or sharp change in attitude from before.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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Now, you want to protect me. An hour ago, you were mercilessly bullying me!
Sometimes; occasionally; used to list a series of often assumed states.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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His face fit his roles: now smiling, now earnest, now glowering, now raging.
More examples (1)
And then they stood about, as soldiers do; now, with their hands loosely clasped before them; now, resting a knee or a shoulder; now, easing a belt or a pouch; now, opening the door to spit stiffly over their high stocks, out into the yard.
Conjunction
Since, because, in light of the fact.
Usage- often
- with that
- Examples
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Now that you are here, we can begin.
Now all the children have grown up and left, the house is very quiet.
Now that my sister has gotten rid of their cat, we can go to her house this coming Thanksgiving.
More examples (3)
We can play football now that the rain has stopped.
Now that you mention it, I am kind of hungry.
Now that we're all here, let's start the meeting.
Interjection
Indicates a signal to begin.
- Examples
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Now! Fire all we've got while the enemy is in reach!
Noun
The present time.
Usage- Uncountable
- usually
- Examples
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Now is the right time.
There is no better time than now.
The state of not paying attention to the future or the past.
Usage- often
- Uncountable
- usually
- with the
- Synonyms
- Examples
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She is living in the now.
A particular instant in time, as perceived at that instant.
Usage- Countable
- usually
- in phenomenology
- Examples
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Forever is composed of Nows— / 'T is not a different time, / Except for infiniteness / And latitude of home.
More examples (1)
Time is not thrust together and summed up out of nows, but the reverse: with reference to the now we can articulate the stretching out of time always only in specific ways.
Noun
the momentary present
- Examples
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Now is a good time to do it
it worked up to right now
Adverb
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
- Examples
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President Kennedy now calls in the National Guard
Washington now decides to cross the Delaware
More examples (1)
the ship is now listing to port
in these times
- Examples
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we now rarely see horse-drawn vehicles on city streets
today almost every home has television
used to preface a command or reproof or request
- Examples
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now hear this!
now pay attention
at the present moment
- Synonyms
- Examples
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goods now on sale
the now-aging dictator
More examples (3)
they are now abroad
he is busy at present writing a new novel
it could happen any time now
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
- Examples
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he answered immediately
found an answer straightaway
More examples (2)
an official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith
Come here now!
(prefatory or transitional) indicates a change of subject or activity
- Examples
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Now the next problem is …
in the immediate past
- Examples
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told me just now