again

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   One more time; once more.

   Grammar: Usually goes at the end: say it again.

   Patterns

   • do something again

   Could you say that again, please?

   He failed the test and had to take it again.

   The phone rang again at midnight.

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   Back to a previous state or position.

   Grammar: Used after adjectives and verbs of change: well again, home again.

   Patterns

   • be well again
   • come back again

   After a week in bed, she felt well again.

   We were happy to be home again.

   The river is calm again after the storm.

3. 3adverbnot comparableinformal

   Used to add another point or to show a contrast with what was just said.

   Grammar: Often 'then again' or 'again,' at the start.

   Patterns

   • then again
   • but again

   It might rain; then again, it might not.

   Again, I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure.

   He is shy, but then again, he is only seven.

Common combinations

once again

Once again, the train was late.

try again

If it fails, try again.

now and again

We visit now and again.

again and again

She read the letter again and again.

all over again

We had to start all over again.

never again

I will never again forget my keys.

Synonyms and how they differ

once more

Once more is slightly more formal or emphatic than again.

anew

Anew means afresh, often in a new way, and sounds literary.

repeatedly

Repeatedly describes many repetitions, while again may be only one.

additionally

Additionally adds a point but does not mean repetition.

Opposites

Word family

against preposition

related by origin to again, meaning opposed to

over adverb

used in 'start over', meaning again

re- prefix

a prefix meaning again, as in reread

Commonly confused: again or against?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “again”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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