ENGLISH THESAURUS & DICTIONARY

now

noun · adverb

Words like now

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13 words · noun, adverbSort by

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MEANING & USAGE

Definitions & examples

01noun

the momentary present

“Now is a good time to do it”

“it worked up to right now”

02adverb

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

“President Kennedy now calls in the National Guard”

“Washington now decides to cross the Delaware”

03adverb

in these times

“it is solely by their language that the upper classes nowadays are distinguished”

“we now rarely see horse-drawn vehicles on city streets”

04adverb

used to preface a command or reproof or request

“now hear this!”

“now pay attention”

4 more meanings

05adverb

at the present moment

“goods now on sale”

“the now-aging dictator”

06adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

“he answered immediately”

“found an answer straightaway”

07adverb

(prefatory or transitional) indicates a change of subject or activity

“Now the next problem is …”

08adverb

in the immediate past

“told me just now”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗

WORDS IN USE

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Plain English

at this point in time → now

Move now to wherever it reads most naturally in the sentence.

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Plain English

at present → now

Currently is another option, though now is shorter.

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Expressions with “now”

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Explore multiword dictionary entries containing this word. Each has its own meanings and related words.

now now til now just now till now until now up to now here and now now and then