no

1
[ noh ]
See synonyms for no on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. (a negative used to express dissent, denial, or refusal, as in response to a question or request): “Have you done the dishes yet?” “No, not yet.”

  2. (used to emphasize or introduce a negative statement): Not a single person came to the party, no, not a one.

  1. not in any degree or manner; not at all (used with a comparative): He is no better.

interjection
  1. (used as an expression of disapproval, shock, disbelief, dismay, etc.): Oh no, my pancakes are burning!“He moved away after he graduated.” “No! I was sure he'd be the one who stuck around.”

adjective
  1. not a (used before a noun or a noun and its modifiers to convey the opposite meaning): She's no beginner on the ski slopes.His recovery was no small miracle.

noun,plural noes, nos.
  1. an utterance of the word “no.”

  2. a denial or refusal: He responded with a definite no.

  1. a negative vote or voter: The noes have it.

verb (used with object)
  1. to reject, refuse approval, or express disapproval of: I would have noed this plan for its lack of forethought if you'd told me about it.

verb (used without object)
  1. to express disapproval.

Idioms about no

  1. no can do, Informal. it can't be done.

Origin of no

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English no, na, Old English nā, from n(e) “not” + ā ay1

Other definitions for no (2 of 7)

no2
[ noh ]

adjective
  1. not any: no money.

  2. not at all; far from being: He is no genius.

  1. very little; negligible: We got her to the hospital in no time.

Origin of no

2
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; variant of none1

Other definitions for No (3 of 7)

No
[ noh ]

noun
  1. Lake, a lake in the Sudd region of S central Sudan, formed by the floodwaters of the White Nile. About 40 sq. mi. (100 sq. km).

Other definitions for No (4 of 7)

No

Symbol, Chemistry.
  1. nobelium.

Other definitions for Nō (5 of 7)

or No, Noh

[ noh ]

noun
  1. classic drama of Japan, developed chiefly in the 14th century, employing verse, prose, choral song, and dance in highly conventionalized formal and thematic patterns derived from religious sources and folk myths.

Origin of Nō

5
1870–75; <Japanese, earlier noũ<Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese néng ability

Other definitions for no. (6 of 7)

no.

abbreviation
  1. north.

  2. northern.

  1. number.

Other definitions for N/O (7 of 7)

N/O

abbreviationBanking.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use no in a sentence

  • "N—o," she said reflectively, as if running over in her mind a dozen delectable plans.

    The Tower of Oblivion | Oliver Onions
  • The horizontal lines g h, i k, l m, and n o divide the five large periods of the organic history of the earth one from another.

  • N o w you know the sort of perfectly splendid modern young lady I am.

    Mrs. Warren's Profession | George Bernard Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for no (1 of 9)

no1

/ (nəʊ) /


sentence substitute
  1. used to express denial, disagreement, refusal, disapproval, disbelief, or acknowledgment of negative statements

  2. used with question intonation to query a previous negative statement, as in disbelief: Alfred isn't dead yet. No?

nounplural noes or nos
  1. an answer or vote of no

  2. (often plural) a person who votes in the negative

  1. the noes have it there is a majority of votes in the negative

  2. not take no for an answer to continue in a course of action despite refusals

Origin of no

1
Old English nā, from ne not, no + ā ever; see ay 1

British Dictionary definitions for no (2 of 9)

no2

/ (nəʊ) /


determiner
  1. not any, not a, or not one: there's no money left; no card in the file

  2. not by a long way; not at all: she's no youngster

  1. (followed by comparative adjectives and adverbs) not: no fewer than forty men; no more quickly than before

  2. no go See go 1 (def. 74)

Origin of no

2
Old English nā, changed from nān none 1

British Dictionary definitions for no (3 of 9)

no3

the internet domain name for
  1. Norway

British Dictionary definitions for no' (4 of 9)

no'

/ (no, nəʊ) /


adverb
  1. Scot not

British Dictionary definitions for No (5 of 9)

No1

Noh

/ (nəʊ) /


nounplural No or Noh
  1. the stylized classic drama of Japan, developed in the 15th century or earlier, using music, dancing, chanting, elaborate costumes, and themes from religious stories or myths

Origin of No

5
from Japanese talent, from Chinese neng

British Dictionary definitions for No (6 of 9)

No2

/ (nəʊ) /


noun
  1. Lake No a lake in South Sudan, where the Bahr el Jebel (White Nile) is joined by the Bahr el Ghazal. Area: about 103 sq km (40 sq miles)

British Dictionary definitions for No (7 of 9)

No3

the chemical symbol for
  1. nobelium

British Dictionary definitions for n.o. (8 of 9)

n.o.

/ cricket /


abbreviation for
  1. not out

British Dictionary definitions for No. (9 of 9)

No.

abbreviation for
  1. north(ern)

  2. Also: no plural Nos or nos number

Origin of No.

9
from French numéro

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for No

No

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with no

no

In addition to the idioms beginning with no

  • no accounting for tastes, there's
  • no buts
  • no call for
  • no can do
  • nodding acquaintance
  • no dice
  • nod off
  • no doubt
  • no end
  • no flies on one
  • no fool like an old fool, there's
  • no go
  • no good
  • no great shakes
  • no hard feelings
  • no holds barred
  • no ifs or buts
  • no joke
  • no kidding
  • no longer
  • no love lost
  • no man is an island
  • no matter
  • no matter how you slice it
  • none of one's business
  • none of the above
  • none other than
  • none the wiser
  • none the worse for
  • none too
  • no news is good news
  • no offense
  • no pain, no gain
  • no picnic
  • no problem
  • nose about
  • nose in
  • nose in a book, have one's
  • nose in the air, have one's
  • nose into
  • nose out
  • nose out of joint, have one's
  • nose to the grindstone, keep one's
  • no shit
  • no sir
  • no skin off one's nose
  • no smoke without fire, there's
  • no soap
  • no sooner said than done
  • no spring chicken
  • no stomach for, have
  • no strings attached
  • no such thing
  • no sweat
  • no telling
  • no thanks to
  • no time at all
  • no time for, have
  • no time like the present, there's
  • no two ways about it
  • no use crying over spilt milk
  • no use, it's
  • no way
  • no wonder

also see:

  • all talk (and no action)
  • all work and no play
  • by no means
  • close but no cigar
  • come to an end (to no good)
  • cut no ice
  • do any (no) good
  • feel no pain
  • hell has no fury
  • hold no brief for
  • in no case
  • in no time
  • in no uncertain terms
  • leave no stone unturned
  • less than (no time)
  • long time no see
  • lose (no) time
  • make no bones about
  • make no difference
  • make no mistake
  • money is no object
  • none of one's (have no) business
  • point of no return
  • pull no punches
  • rolling stone gathers no moss
  • shadow of a doubt, no
  • take no for an answer
  • there's no telling
  • to little (no) purpose
  • to no avail
  • under any (no) circumstances
  • up to no good
  • yes and no

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.