# again

> English word · Adverb · IPA /əˈɡɛn/ · frequency rank #189

## Definitions
1. Another time: indicating a repeat of an action.
2. Back (to a former place or state).
3. Over and above a factor of one.
4. Used metalinguistically, with the repetition being in the discussion, or in the linguistic or pragmatic context of the discussion, rather than in the subject of discussion.
5. Used metalinguistically, with the repetition being in the discussion, or in the linguistic or pragmatic context of the discussion, rather than in the subject of discussion.
6. Used metalinguistically, with the repetition being in the discussion, or in the linguistic or pragmatic context of the discussion, rather than in the subject of discussion.
7. Used metalinguistically, with the repetition being in the discussion, or in the linguistic or pragmatic context of the discussion, rather than in the subject of discussion.
8. Back in the reverse direction, or to an original starting point.
9. In return, as a reciprocal action; back.
10. In any other place.
11. On the other hand.
12. Moreover; besides; further.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
▲
Proto-Indo-European *h₁en-
Proto-Indo-European *h₁en-
Proto-Indo-European *h₁én
Proto-Germanic *in
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰengʰ-der.
Proto-Germanic *ganganąder.?
Proto-Germanic *gagin
Proto-Germanic *in gagin
Proto-West Germanic *in gagin
Old English onġēan
Middle English agayn
English again
From Middle English agayn, from Old English onġēan (“against, again”), from Proto-West Germanic *in gagin, from Proto-Germanic *in gagin. Cognate with German entgegen (“contrary to”), North Frisian ijen (“against”), Danish igen (“again”), Swedish igen (“again”), and Norwegian Bokmål igjen (“again”), and Icelandic í gegnum (“through”). By surface analysis, on- + gain (“against”).

## Easily confused with
- **ain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-ain)
- **AGI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-agi)
- **Alan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-alan)
- **akin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-akin)
- **amin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-amin)
- **agar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-agar)
- **agri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-agri)
- **aging** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-aging)
- **await** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-await)
- **avail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-avail)
- **Alvin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-alvin)
- **Alain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-alain)
- **Armin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-armin)
- **aggie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-aggie)
- **Askin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-askin)
- **agate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-agate)
- **agave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-agave)
- **agape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-agape)
- **attain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-attain)
- **ageing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/again-vs-ageing)

## Common misspellings (6)
`aagin`, `againn`, `agani`, `aggain`, `agian`, `gaain`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/again