around vs now

around

adv
  • From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement. 

  • Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people. 

  • So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction. 

  • From place to place. 

  • Nearly; approximately; about. 

  • So as to surround or be near. 

  • So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof. 

  • Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity. 

prep
  • Forming a circle or closed curve containing (something). 

  • At or to various places within. 

  • Centred upon; surrounding. 

  • Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point. 

  • Near; in the vicinity of. 

  • Following a path which curves near an object, with the object on the inside of the curve. 

adj
  • Present in the vicinity. 

  • Alive; existing. 

now

adv
  • Used to address a switching side, or sharp change in attitude from before. (In this usage, now is usually emphasized). 

  • Used to indicate a context of urgency. 

  • Sometimes; occasionally. 

  • At the present time. 

  • Used to introduce a point, a qualification of what has previously been said, a remonstration or a rebuke. 

  • At the time reached within a narration. 

  • Differently from the immediate past; differently from a more remote past or a possible future; differently from all other times. 

intj
  • Indicates a signal to begin. 

noun
  • The state of not paying attention to the future or the past. 

  • The present time. 

  • A particular instant in time, as perceived at that instant. 

adj
  • Fashionable; popular; up to date; current. 

  • Present; current. 

conj
  • Since, because, in light of the fact; often with that. 

How often have the words around and now occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )