again
gb/əɡˈɛn/ us/əɡˈɛn/
A1
English
~ 200
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A1
relation
1
one more time
Used to say that something happens one more time.
Usage pattern:
to do [something] again
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'again' with 'back' when talking about returning somewhere; 'again' refers to repetition, not movement to a previous place.
Synonyms
once more (Slightly more formal or literary than 'again', but meaning is the same.)
Antonyms
never again (Indicates that something will not be repeated.)
Collocations
once again
|over and over again
|try again
|see again
|meet again
Themes
daily life
|communication
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I read the book again to understand it better.
- She called me again after I didn't answer the first time.
- We should meet again soon.
- He failed the test, so he will take it again.
- The song played again on the radio.
Learner examples
- I watched the movie again.
- Please say it again.
- He asked me again.
- We went there again.
- She read the story again.
adverb
A2
relation
2
back to previous condition
Used to say something is like it was before.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'back' instead of 'again' when referring to restored states; 'back' often refers to movement in space rather than restoration.
Synonyms
back ('Back' can also mean return in space or time, but 'again' emphasizes restoration of a former state.)
Antonyms
still ('Still' indicates continuity of a state without change or return.)
Collocations
well again
|together again
|normal again
Themes
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After a week of rest, she felt strong again.
- The city is peaceful again after the festival.
- They are friends again after the argument.
- The store is open again after renovations.
Learner examples
- He is happy again.
- We are friends again.
- The shop is open again.
- She feels good again.
Grammar
Dictionary form
again
IPA
GB/əɡˈɛn/
US/əɡˈɛn/
Syllables & stress
again (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: again
- Plural: agains
Word family
Forms
agains
noun
Related words
against
preposition A2
Expressions
once again
1/wˈʌns əɡˈɛn/
fixed phrase
one more time
Used to say something happens another time, often for emphasis.
Examples
- Once again, she forgot her keys.
- Once again, we won the game.
over and over again
1/ˈoʊvɚ ˈænd ˈoʊvɚ əɡˈɛn/
fixed phrase
many times repeatedly
Used to say that something happens many times in the same way.
Examples
- He told the story over and over again.
- I listened to the song over and over again.
never again
1/nˈɛvɚ əɡˈɛn/
fixed phrase
Not happening in the future again
Used to say you will not do something another time in the future.
Examples
- Never again will I eat there!
- That was terrible—never again!
- He promised never again to be late.
- After that trip, I said, "Never again."