/ naʊ; NAmE / adverb , conjunction
■ adverb
1.
(at) the present time :
Where are you living now?
It's been two weeks now since she called.
It's too late now.
From now on I'll be more careful.
He'll be home by now .
I've lived at home up till now .
That's all for now .
2.
at or from this moment, but not before :
Start writing now.
I am now ready to answer your questions.
3.
( informal ) used to show that you are annoyed about sth :
Now they want to tax food!
What do you want now?
It's broken. Now I'll have to get a new one.
4.
used to get sb's attention before changing the subject or asking them to do sth :
Now, listen to what she's saying.
Now, the next point is quite complex.
Now come and sit down.
Now let me think ...
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IDIOMS
- (every) now and again / then
- now for sb / sth
- now, now
- now ... now ...
- (it's) now or never
- now then
- now what?
■ conjunction
now (that) ... because the thing mentioned is happening or has just happened :
Now that the kids have left home we've got a lot of extra space.
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English nū , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch nu , German nun , from an Indo-European root shared by Latin nunc and Greek nun .