now

a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

noun

10.

the present time or moment: Up to now no one has volunteered.

adjective

11.

up-to-the-minute; encompassing the latest ideas, fads, or fashions: the now look; the now generation.

Idioms

12.

now and again, occasionally. Also, now and then.

13.

now that, inasmuch as; since: Now that she is rich and famous, she is constantly being besieged by appeals for aid.

Origin:
before 900; 1965–70 for def 11; Middle English; Old English nū, cognate with Old Norse, Gothic nū; akin to German nun, Latin num, Sanskrit nu, Greek nú, nûn

Related forms

now·ness, noun

Can be confused: currently, immediately, momentarily, now, presently, soon (see synonym study at immediately)(see usage note at presently).

Dictionary.com Unabridged

organization for Women">National Organization for Women.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source

Link To now

Collins

World English Dictionary

now (naʊ)

—*adv*
1.	at or for the present time or moment
2.	at this exact moment; immediately
3.	in these times; nowadays
4.	given the present circumstances: now we'll have to stay to the end
5.	(preceded by just) very recently: he left just now
6.	(often preceded by just) very soon: he is leaving just now
7.	now and again, now and then, every now and again, every now and then occasionally; on and off
8.	for now for the time being
9.	(interjection) now now! an exclamation used to rebuke or pacify someone
10.	now then
	a. (sentence connector) used to preface an important remark, the next step in an argument, etc
	b. (interjection) an expression of mild reproof: now then, don't tease!

—*conj* (often foll by that)
11.	seeing that; since it has become the case that: now you're in charge, things will be better

—*sentence connector*
12.	a. used as a transitional particle or hesitation word: now, I can't really say
	b. used for emphasis: now listen to this
	c. used at the end of a command, esp in dismissal: run along, now

—n
13.	the present moment or time: now is the time to go

—*adj*
14.	informal of the moment; fashionable: the now look is street fashion

[Old English nū; compare Old Saxon nū, German nun, Latin nunc, Greek nu]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

now

O.E. nu, common Gmc. (cf. O.N. nu, Du. nu, O.Fris. nu, Ger. nun, Goth. nu "now"), from PIE *nu (cf. Skt., Avestan nu, O.Pers. nuram, Hittite nuwa, Gk. nu, nun, L. nunc, O.C.S. nyne, Lith. nu, O.Ir. nu-). Often merely emphatic; non-temporal usage (cf. Now, then) was in O.E. The adj. meaning "up to date"

first recorded 1967.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

American Heritage

Abbreviations & Acronyms

NOW
National Organization for Women

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

now

In addition to the idioms beginning with now, also see any day (now); every now and then; here and now; just now.