Standard Lemma guide

now-or-never

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌnaʊəˈnɛvə/
  • General-American: /ˌnaʊəɹˈnɛvəɹ/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛvə(ɹ)

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of a need for a decision, an opportunity, etc.: arising at the present time and requiring action to be taken immediately, or not at all.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From now or never (adverb).

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: nyt tai ei koskaan — arising at the present time and requiring action to be taken immediately, or not at all
  • Polish: natychmiastowy — arising at the present time and requiring action to be taken immediately, or not at all