nothing

[ nuhth-ing ]

noun

1. no thing; not anything; naught:

   to say nothing.

2. no part, share, or trace (usually followed by of ):

   The house showed nothing of its former magnificence.

3. something that is nonexistent.
4. nonexistence; nothingness:

   The sound faded to nothing.

5. something of no importance or significance:

   Wealth is nothing if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it.

6. a trivial action, matter, circumstance, thing, or remark:

   to exchange a few nothings when being introduced.

7. a person of little or no importance; a nobody.
8. something that is without quantity or magnitude.
9. a cipher or naught:

   Nothing from nine leaves nine.

10. (used in conventional responses to expressions of thanks):

    Think nothing of it. It's nothing. Nothing to it.

adverb

1. in no respect or degree; not at all:

   It was nothing like that. Nothing dismayed, he repeated his question.

adjective

1. amounting to nothing, as in offering no prospects for satisfaction, advancement, or the like:

   She was stuck in a nothing job.

nothing

/ ˈnʌθɪŋ /

pronoun

1. indefinite no thing; not anything, as of an implied or specified class of things

   I can give you nothing

2. no part or share

   to have nothing to do with this crime

3. a matter of no importance or significance

   it doesn't matter, it's nothing

4. indicating the absence of anything perceptible; nothingness
5. indicating the absence of meaning, value, worth, etc

   to amount to nothing

6. zero quantity; nought
7. be nothing to
   be nothing to
   1. not to concern or be significant to (someone)
   2. to be not nearly as good as
8. have nothing to do with
   have nothing to do withbe nothing to do with to have no connection with
9. have nothing on
   have nothing onhave got nothing on
   1. to have no engagements to keep
   2. to be undressed or naked
   3. to compare unfavourably with
10. in nothing flat informal.
    in nothing flat in almost no time; very quickly or soon
11. nothing but
    nothing but not something other than; only
12. nothing doing informal.
    nothing doing an expression of dismissal, disapproval, lack of compliance with a request, etc
13. nothing if not
    nothing if not at the very least; certainly
14. nothing less than
    nothing less thannothing short of downright; truly
15. there's nothing for it
    there's nothing for it there's no choice; there's no other course
16. there's nothing like
    there's nothing like a general expression of praise

    there's nothing like a good cup of tea

17. there's nothing to it
    there's nothing to it it is very simple, easy, etc
18. think nothing of
    think nothing of
    1. to regard as routine, easy, or natural
    2. to have no compunction or hesitation about
    3. to have a very low opinion of
19. to say nothing of
    to say nothing of as well as; even disregarding

    he was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of his thick overcoat

20. stop at nothing
    stop at nothing to be prepared to do anything; be unscrupulous or ruthless

adverb

1. in no way; not at all

   he looked nothing like his brother

noun

1. informal.
   a person or thing of no importance or significance
2. sweet nothings
   sweet nothings words of endearment or affection

Usage

Nothing normally takes a singular verb, but when nothing but is followed by a plural form of a noun, a plural verb is usually used: it was a large room where nothing but souvenirs were sold

Word History and Origins

Origin of nothing¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English nānthing, nathing; no ², thing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nothing¹

Old English nāthing, nān thing, from nān none ¹+ thing ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. for nothing,
   1. free of charge.
   2. for no apparent reason or motive.
   3. futilely; to no avail:

      They had gone to a great deal of expense for nothing.

2. in nothing flat, in very little time:

   Dinner was finished in nothing flat.

3. make nothing of,
   1. to treat lightly; regard as easy.
   2. to be unsuccessful in comprehending:

      He could make nothing of the complicated directions.

4. nothing but, nothing other than; only:

   We could see nothing but fog.

5. nothing doing,
   1. Informal. emphatically no; certainly not.
   2. no activity, inducement, advantage, etc., present to the eye:

      We drove through the town but there seemed to be nothing doing.

6. nothing less than / short of, absolutely; completely:

   She was used to nothing less than the best.

7. think nothing of,
   1. to treat casually.
   2. to regard as insignificant:

      He thinks nothing of lying to conceal his incompetence.

More idioms and phrases containing nothing

• come to nothing
• count for (nothing)
• go for nothing
• have nothing on
• have nothing to do with
• here goes (nothing)
• in no time (nothing flat)
• leave a lot (nothing) to be desired
• make nothing of
• make something of (nothing)
• much ado about nothing
• not know beans (from nothing)
• not to mention (say nothing of)
• stop at nothing
• sweet nothings
• think nothing of
• want for nothing

Example Sentences

In the meantime, he should just accept that the holdup has nothing to do with his politics.

From The Daily Beast

The decision not to run the cartoons is motivated by nothing more than fear: either fear of offending or fear of retaliation.

From The Daily Beast

It has nothing to do with the regulatory job he is nominated for.

From The Daily Beast

“There is a heavy security presence but nothing has changed,” agrees Father Javier.

From The Daily Beast

Nothing made Groucho funnier than having this Margaret Dumont around not understanding the jokes.

From The Daily Beast

The vision—it had been an instantaneous flash after all and nothing more—had left his mind completely for the time.

From Project Gutenberg

We should have to admit that the new law does little or nothing to relieve such a situation.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing remarkable occurred in our march through this country.

From Project Gutenberg

It was very warm, and for a while they did nothing but exchange remarks about the heat, the sun, the glare.

From Project Gutenberg

"There is no more war," Brion translated for Ulv, realizing that the Disan had understood nothing of the explanation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• nobody