Now Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：at this moment (now)

now 🔊

/naʊ/

adv.

It means at this very moment, not later.

at this moment 🔊

➕

/æt ðɪs ˈmoʊmənt/

adv.

Refers to the present time, the current moment, without delay.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old English 'nū', meaning 'at the present time'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'now' as the needle of a clock pointing to the exact second — the present instant.

📖 Example

Now is the perfect time to start learning a new skill. 🔊 Now is the perfect time to start learning a new skill.

🔗 Collocations

right now – at this very moment

just now – a moment ago

now and then – occasionally

🔄 Synonyms

immediately (adv.) – without any delay

presently (adv.) – at the present time; now

currently (adv.) – at the present time

🚫 Antonyms

later (adv.) – at a subsequent time

then (adv.) – at that time (past or future)

formerly (adv.) – in the past

🌱 Derivatives

nowadays (adv.) – in these present times

📖 Cultural Story

Now derives from Proto-Germanic *nu, related to Latin nunc and Greek νῦν (nun), all meaning 'at this time'. It has been a core temporal adverb since Old English.