aren't

American  

[ahrnt, ahr-uhnt] / ɑrnt, ˈɑr ənt /

1. contraction of are not.

2. contraction of am not (used interrogatively).

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aren't British  

/ ɑːnt /

contraction

1. are not

2. informal (used in interrogative sentences) am not

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Usage

The social unacceptability of ain't, the historical contraction of am not, has created a gap in the pattern of verbal contractions. I'm not, the alternative to I ain't, has no corresponding interrogative form except ain't I. In questions, ain't I is often avoided by the use of aren't I: I'm right, aren't I? Aren't I on the list? This aren't is simply a different outcome of the same historical development that yielded ain't, but the fact that it is spelled and pronounced like the contraction of are not (as in You are staying, aren't you? ) apparently gives it, for some, an acceptability that ain't lacks. The use of aren't I is objected to by others because a declarative counterpart, I aren't, does not exist. Many speakers, however, prefer aren't I to the uncontracted, rather formal am I not. See also ain't, contraction.

Etymology

Origin of aren't

As contraction of am not, a doublet of ain't (without raising of the vowel), spelling aren't by r-less speakers; ar was later substituted for the long a by speakers who regularly pronounce pre-consonantal r

Example Sentences

Any industry analyst will tell you that artificial-intelligence integration in the workplace is imminent and it would be smart to learn how to utilize AI, so you aren’t replaced by it.

From MarketWatch

“His songs aren’t necessarily ones that would get you, like, super hype,” said lineman Bray Lynch.

From The Wall Street Journal

Other hyperscalers aren’t quite going that far, but are getting more involved in energy projects.

From The Wall Street Journal

The assets that Halliburton left behind in 2019 aren’t very important, he said, compared with the company’s ability to move in new equipment to rehab Venezuela’s existing oil fields and energy infrastructure and provide services such as reservoir evaluation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Not quite—but with mortgage rates hitting their lowest point since 2022, buyers aren’t willing to wait around in a market that’s been low on supply for years.

From Barron's