now
At this moment
Now is a busy function word that typically refers to a time that includes the present – where the present can encompass anything from a second to an eon, depending on context.
Leave now means this instant, while there are no dinosaurs now means in the current epoch.
In conversation, now may have no reference to time and is used instead to change the subject or to direct focus to something: Now what do you want to talk about?
Before a verb, now typically signals that the time reference of the verb introduces new information: We now know that there were witnesses.
Directed flow of charge
ongoing · contemporary · modern-day · live · real-time · actual · prevailing · present-day
Passing very quickly
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- passingMoving by or temporary
- briefShort in duration
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
temporary · short-lived · transitory · impermanent · evanescent · blink · gone · fading
Briefest unit of time
- immediatelyWithout any pause
- straightawayWithout pause or hesitation
- promptlyWithout hesitation or delay
- directlyWithout intermediary steps
forthwith · pronto · on-the-spot · stat · instantaneously · presently · already · quick
Likelihood of occurrence
- momentBrief period of time
- timeMeasured passage of moments
- openingGap or start
- windowGlass-fitted wall opening
occasion · juncture · crossroads · pivotal · decisive · ripe · ready · seize
Needing immediate attention
emergency · crisis · deadline · time-sensitive · pressing · critical · imperative · stat
current
Directed flow of charge
existing · ongoing · contemporary · modern-day · live · real-time · actual · prevailing · present-day · extant
fleeting
Passing very quickly
ephemeral · temporary · short-lived · transitory · impermanent · evanescent · blink · gone · fading · vanishing
instant
Briefest unit of time
- immediatelyWithout any pause
- straightawayWithout pause or hesitation
- promptlyWithout hesitation or delay
directly · forthwith · pronto · on-the-spot · stat · instantaneously · presently · already · quick
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
window · occasion · juncture · crossroads · pivotal · decisive · ripe · ready · seize · breakthrough
urgent
Needing immediate attention
fast · emergency · crisis · deadline · time-sensitive · pressing · critical · imperative · stat · crunch-time
presence
State of being somewhere
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- mindfulConsciously attentive
- meditationFocused attention practice
zen · conscious · attentive · grounded · centered · stillness · focus · awakened
then
At that time
future · formerly · previously · once · later · soon · eventually · yet · still · already
- right nowAt the present moment
- for nowAt this time
- not nowPostponement phrase
- from now onBeginning at present
- out of nowhereWithout apparent origin
- now or neverFinal opportunity phrase
know, nowhere, right now, nowadays, nowt, nowness, just now, noway, up to now