again

A2 · Elementary

adv. back to how things were before.

adv. indicating a return to a previous place, condition, or state of being.

“It is nice to be home again after a long trip.”

“After several weeks of physical therapy, he was finally able to walk again without the assistance of a cane.”

B1 · Intermediate

adv. you use this when you want someone to repeat information you forgot.

adv. used metalinguistically to request the repetition of information within a conversation.

“What was your sister's name again?”

“I am sorry, could you tell me the departure time again? I didn't catch it the first time.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adv. used to add another fact or reason to what you are saying.

adv. used to introduce an additional point or a counter-argument in a discussion.

“The car is expensive, but then again, it is very reliable.”

“The project is risky; then again, the potential rewards for the company are significant enough to justify the investment.”

C2 · Proficiency Dialect · Archaic

prep. an old or regional way to say 'against' or 'next to'.

prep. a regional variant of 'against', used to indicate physical opposition or proximity.

“He leaned the ladder again the wall of the shed.”

“In the local dialect, it was common to hear the villagers speak of leaning their tools again the fence after a day's work.”