Now meaning

What does “now” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“now” is a noun and adverb with 8 meanings. Its most common meaning is: the momentary present.

now

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
“President Kennedy now calls in the National Guard”
“Washington now decides to cross the Delaware”
in these times
“it is solely by their language that the upper classes nowadays are distinguished”
“we now rarely see horse-drawn vehicles on city streets”
Synonymsnowadays today
used to preface a command or reproof or request
“now hear this!”
“now pay attention”
at the present moment
“goods now on sale”
“the now-aging dictator”
Synonymsat present
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
“he answered immediately”
“found an answer straightaway”
Synonymsimmediately instantly straightaway straight off directly right away at once forthwith
(prefatory or transitional) indicates a change of subject or activity
“Now the next problem is...”
in the immediate past
“told me just now”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University