1
a
: at the present time or moment
Now is the time for action.
b
: in the time immediately before the present
thought of them just now
c
: in the time immediately to follow : forthwith
come in now
2
—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost to express command, request, or admonition
now hear this
now you be sure to write
3
—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost to introduce an important point or indicate a transition (as of ideas)
now, this may seem reasonable at first
4
: sometimes
now one and now another
5
: under the present circumstances
Since my plan has failed, we must now try his.
6
: at the time referred to
now the trouble began
7
: by this time
has been teaching now for twenty years
: in view of the fact that : since
—often followed by that
now that we are here
: the present time or moment
been ill up to now
1
: of or relating to the present time : existing
the now president
2
a
: excitingly new
now clothes
b
: constantly aware of what is new
now people
the now generation
National Organization for Women
Synonyms
Adverb
Conjunction
- 'cause
- as
- as long as
- because
- being (as or as how or that) [chiefly dialect]
- considering
- for
- inasmuch as
- seeing
- since
- whereas
Noun
Adjective
Examples of now in a Sentence
Adverb
We were having trouble before, but everything's okay now.
I'm feeling much better now, thank you.
I love you now and I'll love you forever.
Now's the time for action.
“And now,” he said, “all we have to do is wait.”
“Can we talk?” “Not now. I'm really busy.”
He knows now that he was wrong.
Police have now identified the man who they believe stole the car.
Scientists now believe that the bones belong to a different species of reptile.
the now famous photograph of an American sailor kissing his young wife
Conjunction
Now you mention it, I am kind of hungry.
I'll repeat my question now that you are paying attention.
Noun
A lot of things can happen between now and then.
The kids are supposed to be in bed by now.
That's enough for now, but we may need some more later.
Things are fine for now.
Fifty years from now you'll be telling your grandchildren about this day.
She's due back a week from now.
We'll be here from now until November.
From now on, no one can use my car without my permission.
Adjective
questioned the moral values of the now generation
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Subscribe now for immediate access to the latest issue and to browse the rich archive.
—Erin Maglaque, The New York Review of Books, 15 Nov. 2024
Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2023
Maybe draft hype sounds like hyperbole with Miami taking a win-now approach after years of rebuilding in previous offseasons.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2023
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 Oct. 2024
When the former best friends and lovers went through a divorce two years later in 2011, the debtor partially revoked the WPT to be able to pay his divorce obligations to his now ex-wife.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for now 
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Adverb
All the Colorado School of Mines football program can do now is wait.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Subscribe now for immediate access to the latest issue and to browse the rich archive.
—Erin Maglaque, The New York Review of Books, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
Pugh and Braff's red carpet appearance was the first time the now-exes have done a public appearance together.
—Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2023
Maybe draft hype sounds like hyperbole with Miami taking a win-now approach after years of rebuilding in previous offseasons.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2023
Adjective
Per the lawsuit, Dr. Sophy was hired by Dre in 2018, as the producer and his now ex-wife, Nicole Young, were attempting to resolve their marital differences.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 Oct. 2024
When the former best friends and lovers went through a divorce two years later in 2011, the debtor partially revoked the WPT to be able to pay his divorce obligations to his now ex-wife.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for now
Dictionary Entries Near now
Cite this Entry
“Now.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/now. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
now
1 of 4 adverb1
a
: at the present time
they are busy now
b
: in the time immediately before the present
thought of them just now
c
: in the time immediately to follow
come in now
2
—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost (as to express command or introduce an important point)
now hear this
3
: sometimes
now one and now another
4
: under the present circumstances
now the trouble began
5
: by this time
has been teaching now for twenty years
now
2 of 4 conjunction
: in view of the fact that : since
—often followed by that
now that we are here
now
3 of 4 nounˈnau̇
: the present time
been ill up to now
now
4 of 4 adjectiveˈnau̇
: of or relating to the present time : existing
the now president
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