What does "now" mean?

1. (at this moment) at the present time or right away. 2. (introducing a new point) used to start a new sentence when you want to change the subject or give a warning. 3. (because of a new situation) used to explain that something is happening because a situation has changed. 4. (the present time) the time that is happening right at this moment. 5. (fashionable) very modern and popular at this time.

now — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01at this moment

A1 · Beginner

adv. at the present time or right away.

adv. at the current moment or in the immediate future.

“I am busy now, but I can help you in ten minutes.”

“The software is now available for download, following several months of rigorous beta testing by the development team.”

Synonyms

currently immediately presently

Antonyms

then later

02introducing a new point

B1 · Intermediate

adv. used to start a new sentence when you want to change the subject or give a warning.

adv. used as a discourse marker to introduce a new topic, a qualification, or a mild rebuke.

“Now, let's look at the next page of the book.”

“Now, it is important to realize that these figures are only estimates and may change before the final report is published.”

Synonyms

anyway listen

03because of a new situation

B1 · Intermediate

conj. used to explain that something is happening because a situation has changed.

conj. used to introduce a clause that explains a present situation or result; often functions as 'since' or 'because'.

“Now that the rain has stopped, we can go for a walk.”

“Now that the merger is complete, the combined entity expects to see significant growth in the European market.”

Synonyms

since because

04the present time

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the time that is happening right at this moment.

n. the present time or the immediate moment, often used after a preposition.

“Up until now, we haven't had any problems with the car.”

“The philosopher argued that we should focus on the here and now rather than worrying about an uncertain future.”

Synonyms

present

Antonyms

past future

05fashionable

C1 · Advanced Informal

adj. very modern and popular at this time.

adj. currently fashionable or trendy; often used in media or marketing contexts.

“That style of jacket is very now.”

“The magazine features all the most now designers who are shaping the aesthetic of the current decade.”

Synonyms

trendy fashionable current

Antonyms

datedold-fashioned

From Middle English now, nou, nu, from Old English nū, from Proto-West Germanic nū, from Proto-Germanic nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nū (“now”). Doublet of nu ("well?"). Cognates Cognate with Scots noo, nou, now (“now”), Yola neow, now, nowe (“now”), North Frisian nü (“now”), Saterland Frisian nu (“now”), West Frisian no (“now”), Dutch nu, nou (“now”), German nu, nun (“now”), Limburgish noe, Nuu (“now”), Danish, Swedish nu (“now”), Elfdalian nų (“now”), Faroese nú, núgv (“now”), Icelandic nú, núna (“now”), Norwegian Bokmål nu, nå (“now”), Norwegian Nynorsk no, nu, nå (“now”), Gothic 𐌽𐌿 (nu, “now”), Latin num (“even now, whether”), Latin nunc (“now”), Albanian ni (“now”), Lithuanian nù (“now”), Avestan 𐬥𐬏 (nū, “now”), Sanskrit नु (nu, “now”).

See know.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

NOUN

nowadays(B2)

ADVERB

now(A1)

by now happening right now