no

[ noh ]

/ noʊ /

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See synonyms for no on Thesaurus.com

adverb

(a negative used to express dissent, denial, or refusal, as in response to a question or request)

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

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

not a (used before an adjective to convey the opposite of the adjective's meaning): His recovery was no small miracle.

adjective

not a (used before a noun to convey the opposite of the noun's meaning): She's no beginner on the ski slopes.

noun, plural noes, nos.

an utterance of the word “no.”

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

a negative vote or voter: The noes have it.

verb (used with object)

to reject, refuse approval, or express disapproval of.

verb (used without object)

to express disapproval.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about no

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

Origin of no

First recorded before 900; Middle English no, na, Old English nā, equivalent to ne “not” + ā ay¹

Other definitions for no (2 of 7)

no²

[ noh ]

/ noʊ /

adjective

not any: no money.

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

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

Origin of no

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

Other definitions for no (3 of 7)

[ noh ]

/ noʊ /

noun

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)

Symbol, Chemistry.

nobelium.

Other definitions for no (5 of 7)

Nō

or No, Noh

[ noh ]

/ noʊ /

noun

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.

Also called Nogaku .

Compare kabuki.

Origin of Nō

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

Other definitions for no (6 of 7)

no.

or No.

abbreviation

north.

northern.

number.

Other definitions for no (7 of 7)

N/O

abbreviation Banking.

registered.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use no in a sentence

For the rest of the trip, Rizzo kept spelling out, in order, the letters r-h-i-n-o-c-e-r-o-s and a-n-t-h-r-o-p-o-i-d.
Portrait of the Consummate Con Man|John Lardner|May 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“[N]o one has a stronger voice in this than the American Jewish community,” Kerry said.
How the Chuck Hagel Fight Changed the American Jewish Landscape in Washington|J. J. Goldberg|August 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
[N]o one is discussing “exempting” congressional staffers from Obamacare.
Exemptions from Obamacare, Ctd.|Justin Green|April 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
N-o, but if she is here I suppose I can't have Tabitha for a room-mate.
Tabitha at Ivy Hall|Ruth Alberta Brown

"N-o," he said, as if impartially looking back on whatever the excellent meal had been.
The Debit Account|Oliver Onions
"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.
The History of Creation, Vol. II (of 2)|Ernst Haeckel
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

used to express denial, disagreement, refusal, disapproval, disbelief, or acknowledgment of negative statements

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

noun plural noes or nos

an answer or vote of no

(often plural) a person who votes in the negative

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

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

Compare yes, aye 2

Word Origin for no

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

British Dictionary definitions for no (2 of 9)

no²

/ (nəʊ) /

determiner

not any, not a, or not onethere's no money left; no card in the file

not by a long way; not at allshe's no youngster

(followed by comparative adjectives and adverbs) notno fewer than forty men; no more quickly than before

no go See go 1 (def. 74)

Word Origin for no

Old English nā, changed from nān none 1

British Dictionary definitions for no (3 of 9)

no³

the internet domain name for

Norway

British Dictionary definitions for no (4 of 9)

no'

/ (no, nəʊ) /

adverb

Scot not

British Dictionary definitions for no (5 of 9)

No¹

Noh

/ (nəʊ) /

noun plural No or Noh

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

Word Origin for No

from Japanese nō talent, from Chinese neng

British Dictionary definitions for no (6 of 9)

No²

/ (nəʊ) /

noun

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

nobelium

British Dictionary definitions for no (8 of 9)

n.o.

/ cricket /

abbreviation for

not out

British Dictionary definitions for no (9 of 9)

No.

abbreviation for

north(ern)

Also: no plural Nos or nos number

Word Origin for No.

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

The symbol for nobelium.

Other Idioms and Phrases with 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

no

Idioms about no

Origin of no

Other definitions for no (2 of 7)

Origin of no

Other definitions for no (3 of 7)

Other definitions for no (4 of 7)

Other definitions for no (5 of 7)

or No, Noh

Origin of Nō

Other definitions for no (6 of 7)

or No.

Other definitions for no (7 of 7)

Words related to no

How to use no in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for no (1 of 9)

Word Origin for no

British Dictionary definitions for no (2 of 9)

Word Origin for no

British Dictionary definitions for no (3 of 9)

British Dictionary definitions for no (4 of 9)

British Dictionary definitions for no (5 of 9)

Noh

Word Origin for No

British Dictionary definitions for no (6 of 9)

British Dictionary definitions for no (7 of 9)

British Dictionary definitions for no (8 of 9)

British Dictionary definitions for no (9 of 9)

Word Origin for No.

Scientific definitions for no

Other Idioms and Phrases with no