You use again to indicate that something happens a second time, or after it has already happened before.
He kissed her again.
Again there was a short silence.
I don't ever want to go through anything like that again.
Synonyms: once more, another time, anew, afresh More Synonyms of again
2. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use again to indicate that something is now in a particular state or place that it used to be in.
He opened his attaché-case, removed a folder, then closed it again.
I started to feel good about myself again.
3. adverb
You can use again when you want to point out that there is a similarity between the subject that you are talking about now and a previous subject.
Again the pregnancy was very similar to my previous two.
With the new artists, you see a more dynamic stage show. And again, that's probablypart of the progress of technology.
Synonyms: also, in addition, moreover, besides More Synonyms of again
4. adverb
You can use again in expressions such as but again, then again, and there again when you want to introduce a remark which contrasts with or weakens something that you have just said.
It's easier to take a taxi. But then again you can't always get one.
They may, but there again they may not.
5. adverb
You can add again to the end of your question when you are asking someone to tell you something that you have forgotten or that they have already told you.
[spoken]
Sorry, what's your name again?
6. adverb
You use again in expressions such as half as much again when you are indicating how much greater one amount is than another amount that you have just mentioned or are about to mention.
Properties in the seaside resorts cost at least half as much again as those in thesurrounding country.
The tower will be half as tall again as Canary Wharf.
7.
See again and again
8. now and again
9. once again
again in British English
(əˈɡɛn, əˈɡeɪn)
adverb
1.
another or second time; once more; anew
she had to start again
2.
once more in a previously experienced or encountered place, state, or condition
he is ill again
she came back again
3.
in addition to the original amount, quantity, etc (esp in the phrases as much again; half as much again)
4. (sentence modifier)
on the other hand
he might come and then again he might not
5.
besides; also
she is talented and, again, so very diligent
6. archaic
in reply; back
she answered again to the questioning voice
7. again and again
8. (used with a negative) Caribbean
any more; any longer
I don't eat pumpkin again
sentence connector
9.
moreover; furthermore
again, it could be said that he is not dead
Word origin
Old English ongegn opposite to, from a-2 + gegn straight
again in American English
(əˈgɛn; also, Chiefly Canadian and British əˈgeɪn)
adverb
1. Rare
back in response; in return
answer again
2.
back into a former position or condition
he is well again
3.
once more; anew
try again
4.
besides; further
again, we should note
5.
on the other hand; from the contrary standpoint
he may, and then again he may not
6. Obsolete
in the opposite direction; back
Idioms:
again and again
as much again
Word origin
ME agen, ayein < OE ongegn, ongean < on-, up to, toward + gegn, direct: orig. separable prefix meaning “directly up to,” hence, “facing, opposite”
Examples of 'again' in a sentence
again
What she wants most of all is to see her mum and dad back together again.
The Sun (2016)
Most similar countries spend nearly half as much again and many far more.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There will be all the chat again about my nationality.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We did and had a brilliant time again.
The Sun (2016)
We have been working on it for it not to happen again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Now and again she tosses her hair.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He says we should go off and have our fun and meet up again when he gets home.
The Sun (2016)
We lied and lied and lied again about this.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The remaining stock can be used again for second helpings of this delicious soup.
Conil, Jean & Conil, Christopher (ed) A Passion for Food (1989)
Will tried to conjure up their blissful months together but before long he spiralled back down again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Again much will depend on how quick his signings settle in.
The Sun (2015)
We have been hearing the same issues raised time and again over the past couple of years.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
My fear it would go wrong again was overwhelming.
The Sun (2012)
We parted with vague plans to meet again in a couple of weeks.
Christianity Today (2000)
We have to make things happen again.
The Sun (2008)
All actors have a little free time now and again.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
So she went looking for treatments that would help her feel good about herself again.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It would be so nice to be able to use it again.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She has a day off and then comes back again tomorrow to begin the individual sprint.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Time and again he was asked how he felt.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The best outcome could be an agreement simply to meet again.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
These things happen and will happen again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Again use elastic to bind the remainder together.
The Sun (2010)
And it is not surprising at all that they have dropped back off again this season.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
And getting it back to life again is going to take more money than the world actually has.
The Sun (2009)
Trading was painfully subdued yet again.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He has so much energy again.
The Sun (2010)
Take a look in the coronary care unit - that might make you think again.
The Sun (2008)
Yet once again the buried memory tried to rise, bringing with it a cold shudder.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
In other languages
again
British English: again /əˈɡɛn; əˈɡeɪn/ ADVERB
If something happens again, it happens another time.
We went to the park again yesterday.
American English: again
Arabic: مَرّةً أُخْرى
Brazilian Portuguese: novamente
Chinese: 再次
Croatian: opet
Czech: opět
Danish: igen
Dutch: weer nogmaals
European Spanish: otra vez
Finnish: taas
French: encore
German: wieder
Greek: πάλι
Italian: ancora
Japanese: 再び
Korean: 다시
Norwegian: igjen
Polish: znowu
European Portuguese: novamente
Romanian: din nou
Russian: вновь
Latin American Spanish: otra vez
Swedish: igen
Thai: อีกครั้ง
Turkish: yine
Ukrainian: знову
Vietnamese: lại
All related terms of 'again'
born-again
A born-again Christian is a person who has become an evangelical Christian as a result of a religious experience.
come again?
Some people say ' Come again? ' when they want you to repeat what you have just said .
over again
If you do something over again , you do it again or start doing it again from the beginning .
ride again
to return to a former activity or scene of activity
same again
You say ' same again ' when you want to order another drink of the same kind as the one you have just had.
then again
on the other hand
there again
You use there again to introduce an extra piece of information which either contradicts what has been said or gives an alternative to it.
think again
If you think again about an action or decision, you consider it very carefully, often with the result that you change your mind and decide to do things differently.
breathe again
to feel relief
again and again
You can use again and again or time and again to emphasize that something happens many times.
all over again
If you say that something is happening all over again , you are emphasizing that it is happening again, and you are suggesting that it is tiring , boring , or unpleasant .
as much again
twice as much
ever and again
now and then; from time to time
now and again
If you say that something happens now and then or every now and again , you mean that it happens sometimes but not very often or regularly.
once and again
occasionally
time and again
frequently
here we go again
You use expressions such as ' here we go ' and ' here we go again ' in order to indicate that something is happening again in the way that you expected , especially something unpleasant .
there you go again
Phrases such as there you go again are used to show annoyance at someone who is repeating something that has annoyed you in the past .
once again once more
If something happens once again or once more , it happens again.
over and over (again)
repeatedly; time after time
but then/but then again
You use but then or but then again before a remark which slightly contradicts what you have just said .
you can say that again
You can use ' You can say that again ' to express strong agreement with what someone has just said .
now and then
sometimes ; occasionally
time after time
If something happens time after time , it happens in a similar way on many occasions .
Chinese translation of 'again'
again
(əˈɡɛn)
adv
(= a second), another time) 又一次地 (yòu yī cì de)
⇒ He kissed her again.他又一次吻了她。 (Tā yòu yī cì wěnle tā.)
(returning to previous state) 又 (yòu)
⇒ She opened the door and then closed it again.她打开门，随着又关上了。 (Tā dǎkāi mén, suízhe yòu guānshàng le.)
again and again/time and again一再 (yīzài)
now and again时(時)而 (shí'ér)
(but) then or there again(但)另一方面 ((dàn) lìng yī fāngmiàn)
All related terms of 'again'
yet again
又一次 yòu yī cì
never again!
下次绝(絕)对(對)不许(許)了! xiàcì juéduì bùxǔ le!
think again!
别(別)想! bié xiǎng!
now and again
时(時)而 shí'ér
all over again
重新 chóngxīn
once more or again
再一次 zài yī cì
"not again!" he groaned
"够(夠)了！"他抱怨道 "gòu le!" tā bàoyuàn dào
again and again/time and again
一再 yīzài
we never saw him again
我们(們)再没(沒)有见(見)过(過)他 wǒmen zài méiyǒu jiànguo tā
you can say that again!
( inf ) 我太同意你说(說)的了！ wǒ tài tóngyì nǐ shuō de le!
we'll meet again some day
有一天我们(們)会(會)再见(見)面的 yǒu yī tiān wǒmen huì zài jiànmiàn de
every now and then or again
不时(時)地 bùshí de
miniskirts are in again this year
迷你裙今年又流行了 mínǐqún jīnnián yòu liúxíng le
so you're back again, are you?
所以你又回来(來)了，是不是？ suǒyǐ nǐ yòu huílai le, shì bù shì?
time after time, time and again
一次次 yī cì cì
you can/could always try again
你总(總)是可以重新开(開)始 nǐ zǒngshì kěyǐ chóngxīn kāishǐ
I feel my old or normal self again
我感到和以前一模一样(樣) wǒ gǎndào hé yǐqián yī mú yī yàng
she was very angry, for he was late again
她非常生气(氣)，因为(為)他又迟(遲)到了 tā fēicháng shēngqì, yīnwèi tā yòu chídào le
(the) same again
同样(樣)的再来(來)一份 tóngyàng de zài lái yī fèn
here we go (again)
( inf ) 噢，(又)来(來)了 ō, (yòu) lái le
(but) then or there again
(但)另一方面 (dàn) lìng yī fāngmiàn
over and over (again)
三番五次 sān fān wǔ cì
(every) now and then or again
时(時)而 shí'ér
1 (adverb)
Definition
once more in a previously experienced state or condition
He ran into her again.
Synonyms
once more
another time
anew
She's ready to start anew.
afresh
The only hope for the party is to start afresh.
2 (adverb)
Definition
moreover or furthermore
And again, that's probably part of the progress of technology.
Synonyms
also
It is much too large and also it is very cold.
in addition
moreover
There was a man behind her. Moreover he was observing her strangely.