Definition of nownext
1
as in currently
at the present time that company doesn't make those toys now because they are unsafe

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in lately
not long ago I was just now wondering what to do about those old clothes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

now

2 of 4

adjective

as in downtown
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment questioned the moral values of the now generation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

now

3 of 4

conjunction

as in because
for the reason that I'll repeat my question now that you are paying attention

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now

4 of 4

noun

as in today
the time currently existing or in progress I know I said you could go, but that was then and this is now

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of now
Adverb
Just about every Milwaukee Brewers opponent has been paying for that ever since, as baseball's best closer now knows. — Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026 Meta, a week ago, rejected, then reversed course on an ad for Alex Gibney’s doc takedown Musk, and now a studio is about to weigh in on Meta. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Adjective
All of the world’s greatest golfers combined are boring compared to Tiger and his now Elvis-like descent. — Mac Engel april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026 Gates has also drawn scrutiny for emails mentioning his now ex-wife, Melinda French Gates. — Ava Berger, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
Lee earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in nursing from UNC Charlotte in 2013, found a job at Atrium Health Union and started dating her now-husband. — Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025 The Padres are built to win now and this is a win-now type of trade that hurts but makes an immediate difference. — Jim Bowden, The Athletic, 25 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for now
Recent Examples of Synonyms for now
Adverb
  • Nine empty apartments are currently listed on StreetEasy for the building where Next Gen’s Ava Dash seems to be living, and nine more are open in Zakkour’s.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Evidence of 'heavy seeds' in the early universe There is currently some debate regarding how black holes first started growing in the infant cosmos.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Well, lately the significant moments have been meeting my new audience, the kids.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Leiber’s more playful bags have been getting red carpet time lately, too.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • The Seahawks pulled away as the second half wore on, scoring three unanswered touchdowns and tearing through the heart of the Chargers’ defense, sometimes scarcely touched.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The crowd is going crazy, play calls are a little shaky sometimes.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • His office did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press regarding a possible snap election.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Reps for Bryan and Gillette stadium did not immediately return a request for comment.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • As Detroit prepares to welcome thousands of people downtown for Grand Prix weekend, city leaders say public safety has been a months-long effort.
    — Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 28 May 2026
  • For sports travelers, that means the pregame meal does not have to be a chain restaurant, and the postgame dinner does not have to be downtown.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • For research conducted today in both academic organizations and for-profit companies, ownership of intellectual property is generally held by these organizations rather than the human discoverers now named in patents.
    — Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Temperatures have reached dangerous levels across Japan and 40 degrees Celsius was reported today for the first time this year.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • People don't want to go around changing their Clocks anymore and, besides, far and away, most people like having an hour of extra sunlight in the evening, rather than in the morning.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • As charge volumes rise and whistleblower programs keep rewarding detailed tips, the record behind every interview isn’t a back-office detail anymore.
    — Beth Worthy, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • Fittingly, Hook dedicated the 1980 classic to Reeves late in the 26-song set, which ran through Joy Division and New Order material along with a couple of tracks from Monaco, Hook’s mid-1990s project.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026
  • And Eisner, even late in his tenure at Disney, would attend test screenings, read scripts and offer detailed notes on the company’s films.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Now.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/now. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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