isn't
Americancontraction
Pronunciation
Isn't is often pronounced in the South Midland and Southern U.S., with , a stop consonant, substituting for , a sibilant. This substitution results from an assimilatory process in which the tip of the tongue, in anticipation of the articulatory position for the following , touches the upper alveolar ridge. This same process gives for wasn't and for business. These pronunciations are heard from speakers on all social levels.
Usage
See contraction.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Dressing up oysters isn’t Breckenridge,” said Marissa Frutchey, senior director of the resort’s mountain dining.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
And isn’t that really what it’s all about?
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
Social media expert Madrigal predicted that "this isn't over", pointing to fresh online posts that are calling for mass arrivals in August.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
To do this, Jessica Clement, a Black woman who has traveled solo to 14 countries, uses TikTok to research destinations but says the value isn’t in the videos themselves.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
After Joey successfully completes her mission, her courage grows steady legs, especially now that she isn’t confined to bed for months at a time.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
