now what

phrase

A request, usually rhetorical, to know what, in a series of negative events, is the next negative event occurring.

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Meanings

phrasenow what?
  1. A request, usually rhetorical, to know what, in a series of negative events, is the next negative event occurring.

    Moe pressed the retrieval button, but, nothing happened. “Now what,” grumbled Moe.

    2012, Gary T. Brideau, River of Fire, page 137
    2 more examples

    With his hand on the instrument, the bell shrilled loudly. “Now, what?” growled Sir Julius.

    2009, Norman Berrow, Oil Under the Window, page 158

    There was a tremendous splash. And then everything was quiet. Until Billy heard a rustling in the forest behind him. Great. Now what?

    2015, Chris Grabenstein, The Island of Dr. Libris, page 60
  2. A request for advice or instruction on what should be done, when a situation has turned negative, particularly if a contingency has failed.

    “The cerclage didn't work,” I said. “So now what?” Bill said. “Now what!”

    2012, Sara Connell, Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story, page 118
    1 more example

    Somehow I didn't think it worked that way—not when they needed thirty-five thousand men a month. Now what? Revington was right; I'd run out of options

    2011, Keith Maillard, Lyndon Johnson and the Majorettes: Difficulty at the Beginning - Book 3, page 131

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
what now
Cite this entry
APA

now what. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/now%20what

MLA

“now what.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/now%20what. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “now what,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/now%20what.

Source: now what on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.