1. At the present moment
   "goods now on sale"; "the now-aging dictator"; "they are now abroad"; "it could happen any time now";
   - at present
    
2. Without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
   "Come here now!"; "he answered right now";
   - immediately, instantly, straightaway, straight off, directly, right away, at once, forthwith, like a shot [informal], right now, right off the bat [N. Amer, informal], instantaneously, outright, in a flash, tout de suite
    
3. In these times
   "we now rarely see horse-drawn vehicles on city streets";
   - nowadays, today, these days
    
4. Used to preface a command, reproof or request
   "now hear this!"; "now pay attention"
    
5. In the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
   "the ship is now listing to port"; "President Kennedy now calls in the National Guard"; "Washington now decides to cross the Delaware"
    
6. (prefatory or transitional) indicates a change of subject or activity
   "Now the next problem is …"
    
7. In the immediate past
   "told me just now"

1. The momentary present
   "Now is a good time to do it"; "it worked up to right now"

1. Because of present circumstances or a just-mentioned fact
   "Now you mention it, I remember seeing him"; "Now that it's raining, we'll stay inside";
   - now that

Derived forms: nows

See also: then and there

Type of: nowadays, present

Encyclopedia: Now, Then & Forever