a ‧ gain S1 W1 /əˈɡen, əˈɡeɪn $ əˈɡen/ BrE AmE adverb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: ongean 'opposite, back' ]
1 . one more time – used when something has happened or been done before:
Can you say that again? I didn’t hear.
I’ll never go there again.
Mr Khan’s busy. Can you try again later?
once again/yet again (=used to emphasize that something has happened several or many times before)
In 1997, the family moved house yet again.
Once again, Drew was under arrest.
2 . back to the same state or situation that you were in before:
She stayed and nursed him back to health again.
It’s great to have you home again.
3 . all over again if you do something all over again, you repeat it from the beginning:
I had to write the essay all over again.
4 . as much/as many/the same again the same amount or number as you have just had, said etc:
What a fantastic lunch. I could eat the same again.
Nearly as many again died from pneumonia.
The amount of crime is about half as much again (=the same in addition to half that amount) as it was in 1973.
‘Another drink?’ ‘Yes, same again (=the same drink again) , please.’
5 . spoken used to give a fact or opinion that explains or adds to something you have just said:
And again, these workshops will benefit the community widely.
6 . then/there again spoken used to introduce an idea or fact that is different from something you have just said, or makes it seem less likely to be true:
She says she’s thirty-five. But then again she might be lying.
7 . again and again/time and (time) again/over and over again very often – used in order to show disapproval:
I’ve told you again and again, don’t do that!
8 . spoken used when you want someone to repeat information that they have already given you:
What did you say your name was again?
⇨ now and again at ↑ now 1 (5)