You use now to refer to the present time, often in contrast to a time in the past or the future.
She's a widow now.
But we are now a much more fragmented society.
Coffee now costs well over 3 dollars a kilo.
She should know that by now.
Now is also a pronoun.
Now is the time when we must all live as economically as possible.
2. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you do something now, you do it immediately.
I'm sorry, but I must go now.
I fear that if I don't write now I shall never have another opportunity to do so.
Now is also a pronoun.
Now is your chance to talk to him.
3. conjunction
You use now or now that to indicate that an event has occurred and as a result something else may or will happen.
Now you're settled, why don't you take up some serious study?
Now that she was retired she lived with her sister.
4. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use now to indicate that a particular situation is the result of something that has recently happened.
She told me not to repeat it, but now I don't suppose it matters.
Diplomats now expect the mission to be much less ambitious.
5. adverb
In stories and accounts of past events, now is used to refer to the particular time that is being written or spoken about.
She felt a little better now.
It was too late now for Blake to lock his room door.
By now it was completely dark outside.
6. adverb [ADVERB with verb, noun ADVERB]
You use now in statements which specify the length of time up to the present that something has lasted.
They've been married now for 30 years.
They have been missing for a long time now.
It's some days now since I heard anything.
7. adverb
You say 'Now' or 'Now then' to indicate to the person or people you are with that you want their attention, or that you are about to change the subject.
[spoken]
'Now then,' Max said, 'to get back to the point.'
She stays at school for drama and doesn't get back till nine. Now, what's everyonedrinking?
Now then, laddie, what's the trouble?
Now, can we move on and discuss the vital business of the day, please.
8. adverb [ADVERB cl]
Some people say 'Now' when they are thinking of what to say next.
[spoken]
Now, er, dogs can live to fifteen.
Now, erm, obviously some of our listeners may have some ideas.
9. adverb
You use now to give a slight emphasis to a request or command.
[spoken]
Come on now. You know you must be hungry.
Come and sit down here, now.
Now don't talk so loud and bother him, honey.
10. adverb
You can say 'Now' to introduce information which is relevant to the part of a story or account that you have reached, and which needs to be known before you can continue.
[spoken]
My son went to Almeria in Southern Spain. Now he is someone who loves a quiet holiday.
Now, I hadn't told him these details, so he must have done some research on his own.
11. adverb
You say 'Now' to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said.
[spoken]
Now, if it was me, I'd want to do more than just change the locks.
12.
See now and again
13.
See any day/moment/time now
14.
See now for
15.
See just now
16.
See just now
17.
See it's now or never
18.
See now, now
19.
See now, now
More Synonyms of now
now in British English
(naʊ)
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 circumstances
now we'll have to stay to the end
5. (preceded by just)
very recently
she left just now
6. (often preceded by just)
very soon
he is leaving just now
7. now and again
8. for now
9. now now!
10. now then
conjunction
11. (subordinating; often foll bythat)
seeing that; since it has become the case that
now you're in charge, things will be better
sentence connector
12.
a.
used as a transitional particle or hesitation word
now, I can't really say
b.
used for emphasis
now listen to this
c.
used at the end of a command, esp in dismissal
run along, now
noun
13.
the present moment or time
now is the time to go
adjective
14. informal
of the moment; fashionable
the now look is street fashion
Word origin
Old English nū; compare Old Saxon nū, German nun, Latin nunc, Greek nu
NOW in American English
(naʊ)
1.
National Organization for Women
2.
negotiable order of withdrawal
now in American English
(naʊ)
adverb
1.
a.
at the present time; at this moment
b.
at once
2.
at the time referred to; then; next
now his joy began
3.
at a time very close to the present
; specif.,
a.
very recently; not long ago
with just
he left just now
b.
very soon
often with just
they are leaving just now
4.
given the situation; with things as they are
now we'll never know what happened
conjunction
5.
since; seeing that
now you've arrived, I can stop worrying
noun
6.
the present time
that's all for now
adjective
7.
of the present or current time
the now generation
interjection
8.
used to signify warning, reproach, etc.
now, be careful!
9.
used with no definite meaning, to provide emphasis or to preface or resume one's remarks
now, I'd been waiting a long time for a chance to get even with him
10.
used to express sympathy, concern, consolation, etc. when repeated
now, now—it's not so bad after all!
Idioms:
now and then
Word origin
ME < OE nu, akin to ON Goth, OHG nu < IE base *nu- > Gr nu, L nunc
Examples of 'now' in a sentence
now
What is now easy used to be difficult.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
What does the world need right now?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We need to go on a run now.
The Sun (2016)
What will my life look like now?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The option of share buybacks looks tricky just now because of notional losses on recent buybacks.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
That offer you waited for may now come through.
The Sun (2016)
The curfew is now back in place in three areas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The merger could now face months of delays.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Now it is time to focus on the power of vegetables.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is now 15 years since that terrible day.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There was little finesse now used to clear an area.
Oliver Poole BLACK KNIGHTS: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad (2003)
Right now that sounds a fair bit more appealing than dodging wildebeest.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We now find ourselves looking for hope.
Christianity Today (2000)
Now they are just three points above the drop zone.
The Sun (2014)
You may step now directly to your cars.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They are now back behind bars where they belong.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You look around here and most of the people have got a smile on their faces now.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now is the time to plant asparagus for a crop next year.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These horses now have to take the next step.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She was off work for one year but is now fully recovered and has a beautiful daughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Now you should go home and sleep.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
Now it becomes clear that any number of politicians are in the frame.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The web is all about the now.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You imply the other person must now agree with you.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
Now you can use them at home to give a rosy hue to your festive champagne.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are now on the run.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But it is now 112 games since his last league goal.
The Sun (2012)
Now she says she wants us to be together, that it was all down to stress.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
now
British English: now /naʊ/ ADVERB
You use now to talk about the present time.
I must go now.
American English: now
Arabic: الآن
Brazilian Portuguese: agora
Chinese: 现在
Croatian: sada
Czech: nyní
Danish: nu
Dutch: nu
European Spanish: ahora
Finnish: nyt
French: maintenant
German: jetzt
Greek: τώρα
Italian: ora
Japanese: 今
Korean: 지금
Norwegian: nå
Polish: teraz
European Portuguese: agora
Romanian: acum
Russian: сейчас
Latin American Spanish: ahora
Swedish: nu
Thai: เดี๋ยวนี้
Turkish: şimdi
Ukrainian: тепер
Vietnamese: bây giờ
Chinese translation of 'now'
now
(nau)
adv
(= at the present time) 现(現)在 (xiànzài)
⇒ It is now just after one o'clock.现在刚过1点钟。 (Xiànzài gāng guò yī diǎn zhōng.)
⇒ I'm going home now.我要回家了。 (Wǒ yào huíjiā le.)
(= these days) 如今 (rújīn)
⇒ Most schoolchildren now own calculators.如今大多数学童都有计算器。 (Rújīn dàduōshù xuétóng dōu yǒu jìsuànqì.)
(= under the circumstances) 看来(來) (kànlái)
⇒ I was hoping to go tomorrow. That won't be possible now.我本来想明天走。看来这不可能了。 (Wǒ běnlái xiǎng míngtiān zǒu. Kànlái zhè bù kěnéng le.)
(= specifying length of time) 到现(現)在为(為)止 (dào xiànzài wéizhǐ)
⇒ They've been married now for 30 years.到现在为止，他们已经结婚30年了。 (Dào xiànzài wéizhǐ, tāmen yǐjīng jiéhūn sānshí nián le.)
(= introducing new information) 喂(餵) (wèi)
⇒ Now, I hadn't told him this, so he must have found out for himself.喂，这件事我没告诉他，他一定是自己发现的。 (Wèi, zhè jiàn shì wǒ méi gàosù tā, tā yīdìng shì zìjǐ fāxiàn de.)
conj
now (that)既然 (jìrán)
⇒ Now that he's feeling better, he can go back to work.既然他感觉好些了，就可以去上班了。 (Jìrán tā gǎnjué hǎo xiē le, jiù kěyǐ qù shàngbān le.)
right now这(這)时(時) (zhèshí)
⇒ What if a shark came along right now?这时，如果来了鲨鱼该怎么办呢？ (Zhèshí, rúguǒ láile shāyú gāi zěnme bàn ne?)
by now到现(現)在 (dào xiànzài)
⇒ He should be here by now.他现在应该到了。 (Tā xiànzài yīnggāi dào le.)
⇒ By now he'll be home and in bed.现在，他一定到了家，上床休息了。 (Xiànzài, tā yīdìng dàole jiā, shàngchuáng xiūxi le.)
just now (= at the moment) 眼下 (yǎnxià)
⇒ I'm pretty busy just now.眼下我很忙。 (Yǎnxià wǒ hěn máng.)
(every) now and then or again时(時)而 (shí'ér)
from now on从(從)现(現)在起 (cóng xiànzài qǐ)
in 3 days from now从(從)现(現)在起3天后(後) (cóng xiànzài qǐ sān tiān hòu)
between now and Monday从(從)现(現)在到星期一 (cóng xiànzài dào xīngqīyī)
that's all for now就到这(這)里(裡) (jiù dào zhèlǐ)
any day/moment/time now不日/随(隨)时(時)/任何时(時)候 (bùrì/suíshí/rènhé shíhou)
now then喂(以引起注意) (wèi (yǐ yǐnqǐ zhùyì))
All related terms of 'now'
by now
到现(現)在 dào xiànzài ⇒ He should be here by now. → 他现在应该到了。 Tā xiànzài yīnggāi dào le. ⇒ By now he'll be home and in bed. → 现在，他一定到了家，上床休息了。 Xiànzài, tā yīdìng dàole jiā, shàngchuáng xiūxi le.
just now
( at the moment ) 眼下 yǎnxià ⇒ I'm pretty busy just now. → 眼下我很忙。 Yǎnxià wǒ hěn máng.
now then
喂(以引起注意) wèi (yǐ yǐnqǐ zhùyì)
right now
这(這)时(時) zhèshí ⇒ What if a shark came along right now? → 这时，如果来了鲨鱼该怎么办呢？ Zhèshí, rúguǒ láile shāyú gāi zěnme bàn ne?
until now
直到现(現)在 zhídào xiànzài
up to now
直到现(現)在 zhídào xiànzài
any day now
从(從)现(現)在起的任何一天 cóng xiànzài qǐ de rènhé yītiān
by now/then
到如今/那时(時) dào rújīn/nàshí
from now on
从(從)现(現)在起 cóng xiànzài qǐ
not yet/now
还(還)没(沒)/现(現)在不 háiméi/xiànzài bù
not just now
不是现(現)在 bù shì xiànzài
not until now
直到现(現)在才 zhídào xiànzài cái
now and again
时(時)而 shí'ér
I'm better now
我现(現)在好多了 wǒ xiànzài hǎo duō le
now we're even
( inf ) 现(現)在我们(們)两(兩)清了 xiànzài wǒmen liǎngqīng le
"reduce speed now"
( Aut ) "现(現)在减(減)速" "xiànzài jiǎnsù"
I should go now
我现(現)在应(應)该(該)走了 wǒ xiànzài yīnggāi zǒu le
you may go now
你现(現)在可以走了 nǐ xiànzài kěyǐ zōu le
I'm much better now
我感觉(覺)好多了 wǒ gǎnjué hǎo duō le
in 3 days from now
从(從)现(現)在起3天后(後) cóng xiànzài qǐ sān tiān hòu
that's all for now
就到这(這)里(裡) jiù dào zhèlǐ
that's old hat now
那已经(經)过(過)时(時)了 nà yǐjīng guòshí le
why not do it now?
为(為)什么(麼)不现(現)在做呢？ Wèi shénme bù xiànzài zuò ne?
between now and Monday
从(從)现(現)在到星期一 cóng xiànzài dào xīngqīyī
from now/that day on
从(從)此/那一天以后(後) cóngcǐ/nà yī tiān yǐhòu
any day/moment/time now
不日/随(隨)时(時)/任何时(時)候 bùrì/suíshí/rènhé shíhou
he'll be there by now
他现(現)在该(該)到了 tā xiànzài gāi dào le
he ought to be there now
他现(現)在应(應)该(該)到那儿(兒)了 tā xiànzài yīnggāi dào nàr le
he will have left by now
他现(現)在一定已经(經)离(離)开(開)了 tā xiànzài yīdìng yǐjīng líkāi le
every now and then or again
不时(時)地 bùshí de
he is now worse off than before
( in situation ) 他现(現)在的情况(況)比以前更糟糕 tā xiànzài de qíngkuàng bǐ yǐqián gèng zāogāo