never

[nev-er]

adverb

1. not ever; at no time.

   Such an idea never occurred to me.

2. not at all; absolutely not.

   never mind;

   This will never do.

3. to no extent or degree.

   He was never the wiser for his experience.

never

/ ˈnɛvə /

adverb

1. at no time; not ever

2. certainly not; by no means; in no case

interjection

1. Also: well I never!. surely not!

Usage

In informal speech and writing, never can be used instead of not with the simple past tenses of certain verbs for emphasis ( I never said that; I never realized how clever he was ), but this usage should be avoided in serious writing

Word History and Origins

Origin of never¹

First recorded before 900; from Middle English, from Old English nǣfre, equivalent to ne “not” + ǣfre ever ( def. ); neither ( def. ), nought ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of never¹

Old English nǣfre, from ne not + æfre _ever

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. never cease to amaze. never cease to amaze.

2. never mind, don't bother; don't concern yourself.

More idioms and phrases containing never

• better late than never
• it never rains but it pours
• lightning never strikes twice
• now or never
• watched pot never boils
• wonders will never cease
• you never can tell

Example Sentences

The bank accounts of social depravity have never been fatter.

Read more on Salon

"It's been a journey that we'll never forget and we hope the music stays with you long after we're gone," they added.

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"I personally advised… that the incumbents would never embrace the positives of R360," he wrote.

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She said she never responded to any of Ms Wandelt's messages.

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"I want to say to them to never be ashamed of what was inflicted upon us, because it is not their fault," she said.

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