now

Examples

• All

• Let me help with the dishes now, and then I'll go up to my room.

  Fiction book (1990)

• I'm constantly asking myself: Do we need to know this now, or can it wait until later?

  Academic text (2011)

• And now I need you, now I need you.

• Yeah, come here now and give me a kiss.

  Liam Tuffs

• What we need to know now is OK.

• So here you have now set the stage for a battle.

• So let's move on now to the values.

• And now, ladies and gentlemen, for my famous newspaper trick.

  Straw Dogs (1971)

• Thus the question of the mayor's legacy is now finally open for serious debate.

  Academic text (2011)

• Please pay attention to the instructions I am about to give now.

Synonyms

Y

you know what

vsnow

• Informal

797 7.5

To say something new or surprising to get someone's attention

is used mainly to start a command or request

B

by the way

vsnow

• Informal

448 1.5

To introduce a new topic that is not directly related

is used to call attention or start a command rather than add tangents

L

look here

vsnow

• Informal

61 6.9

To get a person's attention before saying something important or angry

is used to introduce commands or new topics without aggressive tone

V

voilà

vsnow

1 8.6

Said when you show something that just appears or is ready

is used to introduce commands or requests rather than present an object

C

come to mention it

vsnow

• UK

1 7.1

Saying this shows you have just remembered something related

is used to start a command or general new topic not a remembered point

Idioms

U

until now

300 1.0

Up to the present time

N

now and then

• Informal

285 1.0

Happens sometimes but not very often

J

just now

278 1.0

A very short time ago

E

every now and then

137 2.0

Sometimes, not very often

N

now and again

• Informal

54 2.3

Happens sometimes but not very often

N

now now

• Informal

51 9.2

Gently show disapproval and tell someone to calm down

U

up to now

30 1.6

Before now, until the present moment

A

any time now

12 1.6

Likely to happen at any moment

S

speak now or forever hold your peace

• Formal

2 8.5

Ask anyone who objects to speak now or be silent forever

N

now or never

• Informal

3.9

Act immediately because there may not be another chance

N

now you're cooking

• Informal

9.3

Shows approval when someone makes good progress

T

ta ta for now

• UK

9.5

A friendly informal way to say goodbye when you will see or speak to someone soon

Compounds

H

here and now

70 3.5

The time and place you are in now

N

now-nowism

• Neologism

9.9

A habit of making quick decisions and ignoring future problems

How Attention-Getting

now

∞ 1.0

by the way

• Informal

448 1.5

Surface Forms

Etymology