now

[[t]na͟ʊ[/t]]

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1) ADV: ADV with cl, oft prep ADV You use now to refer to the present time, often in contrast to a time in the past or the future.

She's a widow now...

But we are now a much more fragmented society...

Beef now costs well over 30 roubles a pound...

She should know that by now.

PRON

Now is also a pronoun.

Now is the time when we must all live as economically as possible.

2) ADV: ADV after v If you do something now, you do it immediately.

I'm sorry, but I must go now...

I fear that if I don't write now I shall never have another opportunity to do so.

PRON

Now is also a pronoun.

Now is your chance to talk to him.

3) CONJ-SUBORD You use now or now that to indicate that an event has occurred and as a result something else may or will happen.

Now you're settled, why don't you take up some serious study?...

Now that she was retired she lived with her sister.

4) ADV: ADV with cl, ADV before v You use now to indicate that a particular situation is the result of something that has recently happened.

Mrs Chandra has received one sweater for each of her five children and says that the winter will not be so hard now...

She told me not to repeat it, but now I don't suppose it matters...

Diplomats now expect the mission to be much less ambitious.

5) ADV: ADV with cl, oft prep ADV In stories and accounts of past events, now is used to refer to the particular time that is being written or spoken about.

She felt a little better now...

It was too late now for Blake to lock his room door...

By now it was completely dark outside.

6) ADV: ADV with v, n ADV You use now in statements which specify the length of time up to the present that something has lasted.

They've been married now for 30 years...

They have been missing for a long time now...

It's some days now since I heard anything.

7) ADV: ADV cl You say `Now' or `Now then' to indicate to the person or people you are with that you want their attention, or that you are about to change the subject. [SPOKEN]

`Now then,' Max said, `to get back to the point.'...

She stays at school for drama and doesn't get back till nine. Now, what's everyone drinking?...

Now then, laddie, what's the trouble?...

Now, can we move on and discuss the vital business of the day, please.

8) ADV: ADV cl Some people say `Now' when they are thinking of what to say next. [SPOKEN]

Now, er, dogs can live to fifteen...

Now, erm, obviously some of our listeners may have some ideas.

9) ADV: ADV with cl You use now to give a slight emphasis to a request or command. [SPOKEN]

Come on now. You know you must be hungry...

Come and sit down here, now...

Now don't talk so loud and bother him, honey.

10) ADV: ADV cl You can say `Now' to introduce information which is relevant to the part of a story or account that you have reached, and which needs to be known before you can continue. [SPOKEN]

My son went to Almeria in Southern Spain. Now he and his wife are people who love a quiet holiday...

Now, I hadn't told him these details, so he must have done some research on his own.

11) ADV: ADV cl You say `Now' to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said. [SPOKEN]

Now, if it was me, I'd want to do more than just change the locks...

Now, as for the Democrats, they've been able to use this issue quite effectively to portray the president as insensitive.

Syn:

however

12) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something happens now and then or every now and again, you mean that it happens sometimes but not very often or regularly.

My father has a collection of magazines to which I return every now and then...

Now and again he'd join in when we were playing video games.

Syn:

every so often

13) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something will happen any day now, any moment now, or any time now, you mean that it will happen very soon.

Jim expects to be sent to Europe any day now...

Any moment now the silence will be broken.

14) PHRASE: PHR n People such as television presenters sometimes use now for when they are going to start talking about a different subject or presenting a new activity. [SPOKEN]

And now for something completely different...

Now for a quick look at some of the other stories in the news.

15) PHRASE: PHR with cl Just now means a very short time ago. [SPOKEN]

You looked pretty upset just now...

I spoke just now of being in love...

Just now I thought I saw someone.

16) PHRASE: cl PHR You use just now when you want to say that a particular situation exists at the time when you are speaking, although it may change in the future. [SPOKEN]

I'm pretty busy just now...

Mr Goldsworth is not available just now.

Syn:

at the moment

17) PHRASE: V inflects If you say `It's now or never', you mean that something must be done immediately, because if it is not done immediately there will not be another chance to do it. [SPOKEN]

It's now or never, so make up your mind...

Much as I hate to go, it's now or never.

18) CONVENTION You can say `now, now' as a friendly way of trying to comfort someone who is upset or distressed. [SPOKEN]

`I figure it's all over.' - `Now, now. You did just fine.'...

`I want to go with you, Daddy.' - `Now, now, sweetheart.'

Syn:

there there

19) CONVENTION You can say `Now, then' or `Now, now' when you want to give someone you know well a friendly warning not to behave in a particular way. [SPOKEN]

Now then, no unpleasantness, please...

Now, now Roger, I'm sure you didn't mean it but that remark was in very poor taste.

Syn:

come come