again

adverb

ə-ˈgen How to pronounce again (audio)
-ˈgin,
-ˈgān
1
a
: another time : once more : anew
It happened again.
I hope we meet again.
Please call again later.
Let's do this again soon.
Try it again. = Try it once again.
singing the song over and over again = singing the song again and again [=repeatedly, many times]
Every day, it's same thing all over again. [=exactly as before]
We had to start all over again. [=once more as if nothing had already been done]
Never again will I travel on a holiday weekend.
Oh no! Not again!
The meeting was postponed yet again.
b
: to a previous position or place
She stood up, and then sat (back) down again.
drove there and back again
2
a
used to introduce a statement that repeats and stresses something previously said
Again, I ask, why are you doing this?
b
used to introduce a thought or possibility that differs from a preceding one
They might forget, and again they might not.
usually used in the phrase then again
Then again, she might change her mind. = She might change her mind, and then again, she might not.
The car's battery seems dead, but then again, the problem could be the starter.
3
used to ask someone to repeat something that was not heard or understood clearly
I'm sorry, what was your name again?
4
: in addition : besides
Again, there is another matter to consider.
5
archaic : in return : back
… swore he would pay him again when he was able.William Shakespeare

Examples of again in a Sentence

Please, come see us again. It was nice to see my friends again. She wants to prove that she can do it again. Things are back to normal again. When we heard the news, we all said, “Oh no! Not again!”. She demonstrated yet again her remarkable artistic talents. It'll just be the same thing all over again. When he stood up, he got so dizzy that he had to sit down again.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Interstate 25 was once again open as of 10:20 a.m., as was Interstate 70 west of E-470. Max Levy, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024 In this first game back in Tampa, the 49ers may need Bosa to battle through a hip injury and have their defense again dictate a victory. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 Even before stepping into the White House again, Trump’s plans have the Federal Reserve trembling. Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024 Beijing launched major drills after former U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited the island in August 2022; when Lai’s predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, briefly stopped in the United States in April 2023; and again after Lai’s inauguration in May 2024. David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for again 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ayen, ayein, ayan, ageyn, again "back, in the opposite direction, to a former state, once more, another time," going back to Old English ongeagn, ongeæn, ongēan, ongān, ongegn, ongēn, agēn (Northumbrian ongægn, ongǣn), (compare parallel compounds in Old Saxon angegin "once more, toward," Old High German ingagan, ingegin "in opposition") from on-, a- on entry 1, a- entry 1 + -geagn (going back to Germanic *gagna-, whence Old High German gagan "towards, against," Old Norse gagn- "against, counter, through") or -gegn (going back to Germanic *gagni-, whence Old Saxon & Old High German gegin "against," Old Frisian jēn, Old Norse gegn)

Note: It has been assumed that certain Old English forms, such as ongeagn, reflected an original *gagna-, and others, such as ongegn, an original *gegni-, though the evidence for the latter in Old English is not entirely clear. The rare instances of ongegn could represent "palatal monophthongization" of ongeagn, while ongēn would be a contraction of ongegn—this would leave only reflexes of *gagna- in Old English. Old English ongān (continued in Middle English ayan) apparently represents a monophthongization of ongēan after the crest of the diphthong had shifted forward. Middle English ayen, the most common southern form well into the 14th century, may be the outcome of either ongēan or ongēn. The form ayein would appear to directly continue ongegn. Originally northern again is presumed to have the velar /g/ from Old Norse i gegn. The shortened vowel in the usual pronunciation of again is probably due to against, where it was conditioned by the final consonant cluster. The origin of Germanic *gagna-, *gegni- (Gothic correspondent lacking) is obscure.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler
The first known use of again was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near again

Cite this Entry

“Again.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/again. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

again

adverb
ə-ˈgen How to pronounce again (audio)
-ˈgin,
-ˈgān
1
: in return
send the message and bring us word again
2
: another time : anew
come see us again
3
: in addition
half as much again
4
: on the other hand
I may, and again I may not
5
: moreover, further
again, there is another matter to consider
Etymology

Old English ongēan "opposite, back"

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