I. now 1 S1 W1 /naʊ/ BrE AmE adverb
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: nu ]
1 . AT THE PRESENT TIME :
They now live in the city centre.
There’s nothing I can do about this right now (=exactly now) .
by now
Sonia should have been home by now. Do you think she’s OK?
up to now/until now
Until now, doctors have been able to do very little to treat this disease.
Please try to be more careful from now on (=starting from now) .
for now (=for a short time)
Just leave your shoes on the back porch for now.
just now especially British English (=at the present time)
There are a lot of bargains in the shops just now.
2 . IMMEDIATELY :
The bell has rung – stop writing now.
If we leave now we’ll be there before dark.
3 . REALIZING used when you know or understand something because of something you have just seen, just been told etc:
Having met the rest of the family, she now saw where he got his temper from.
4 . three weeks/two years etc now used to say how long ago something started:
They’ve been going out together for a long time now.
It’s been over five years now since I started working here.
It’s now a month since we bought the car and it’s broken down three times already.
5 . (every) now and then/now and again sometimes:
I hear from him every now and then.
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
6 .
a) used when getting someone’s attention before continuing what you are saying or changing the subject:
Now, let’s move on to the question of payment.
b) used at the beginning of a sentence when asking for information:
Now, what did you say your name was?
c) used when pausing when you are thinking what to say next:
Now, let’s see, oh yes – they wanted to know what time you’ll be back on Friday.
d) used to say that if the situation was different, something different would happen:
Now if I’d been in charge there’s no way I’d have let them use the van.
e) used to make someone calm, or comfort them when they are angry, upset etc:
Come on now, don’t cry.
f) used when telling or reminding someone to do something:
Now hurry up! I haven’t got all day.
Don’t forget now, you have a dental appointment Thursday afternoon.
7 . any day/minute etc now very soon:
The guests will arrive any minute now.
8 . just now
a moment ago:
Was that you singing just now?
9 . now then used to get someone’s attention before telling them to do something or asking them a question:
Now then, what seems to be the problem here?
Now then, try to sit up and have some of this soup.
10 . well now used when giving an opinion or asking someone to tell you something:
Well now, what’s all this I hear about you getting married?
11 . now for something used when saying what you are going to do next:
Thanks, Norma, and now for a look at tomorrow’s weather.
12 . and now used when introducing the next activity, performer etc:
And now, live from New York, it’s David Letterman!
13 . now now
a) used to make someone calm or comfort them when they are angry, upset etc:
Now now, don’t worry. Everything will be okay.
b) especially British English used when telling someone not to behave badly:
Now now, leave your sister alone.
14 . not now used to tell someone that you do not want to talk to them or do something now, because you are busy, tired etc:
‘Tell me a story.’ ‘Not now, Daddy’s working.’
15 . now what? used when an attempt to do something has failed and you do not know what to do next:
Kate tried each of the keys, but none of them fit. ‘Now what?’ she thought.
16 . now you’re talking used to tell someone that you agree very much with what they are saying:
‘Feel like going out for a beer?’ ‘Now you’re talking.’
17 . it’s now or never used to say that if someone does not do something now, they will not get another chance to do it:
Quite suddenly, her mind was made up. It was now or never.
18 . now’s the time (for somebody) to do something used to say that someone should do something now, because it is the right time to do it:
Now’s the time to buy a car, while the interest rates are low.
19 . what is it now?/now what? used when you are annoyed because someone keeps interrupting you or asking you things:
‘Mom, can you come here for a minute?’ ‘What is it now?’
20 . now you tell me! used when you are annoyed or amused because someone has just told you something they should have told you before:
‘You didn’t need to make anything for dinner – Dad’s bringing home pizza.’ ‘Oh, now you tell me!’
21 . now ... now ... literary used to say that at one moment someone or something does one thing and immediately after, they do something else:
The eagle glided through the sky, now rising, now falling.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ now at this time:
Where are you living now?
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The population is much larger now than it used to be.
▪ currently formal now – used when describing what a situation is like:
The firm currently employs 113 people.
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Currently, the starting salary is around £20,000.
▪ at the moment now – used when talking about a short period of time, after which the situation is likely to change:
I think she’s at lunch at the moment – can I ask her to call you back?
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At the moment I’m working in a restaurant, but I’m hoping to go to college.
▪ at present/at the present time formal ( also presently American English ) now – used when you do not expect something that is true now to be permanent:
Many areas are inaccessible at present due to heavy snow.
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The official currency is the crown, presently about 30 to the dollar.
▪ for the time being now – used when a situation is likely to change, especially because an arrangement is only temporary:
You can stay here for the time being, until you find a flat.
II. now 2 S1 W3 BrE AmE ( also ˈnow that ) conjunction
because of something or as a result of something:
Now that we know each other a little better, we get along fine.
I’m going to relax now the school year is over.
Now that I think of it, I acted the same way when I was his age.