never

[ nev-er ]

/ ˈnɛv ər /

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See synonyms for never on Thesaurus.com

adverb

not ever; at no time: Such an idea never occurred to me.

not at all; absolutely not: never mind;This will never do.

to no extent or degree: He was never the wiser for his experience.

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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.

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Idioms about never

never cease to amaze. See entry at never cease to amaze.

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

Origin of never

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

Words nearby never

Nevada, Nevadan, Nevado del Ruiz, névé, Nevelson, never, never a dull moment, never cease to amaze, never-ending, never fear, Never give a sucker an even break

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

How to use never in a sentence

The simple, awful truth is that free speech has never been particularly popular in America.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He looks like a man who should have had kids, but now never will.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In an email exchange a friend said many had repeated this same succinct review but they could never elaborate.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist|Judnick Mayard|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, almost exactly 30 years after the trial, the judge left his home to board a steamboat and was never heard from again.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

For many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bessires was included because he would never win it at any later date, but his doglike devotion made him a priceless subordinate.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Now, it immediately occurred to Davy that he had never in his whole life had all the plums he wanted at any one time.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Arches more graceful in form, or better fitted to defy the assaults of time, I have never seen.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
The policemen looked dull and heavy, as if never again would any one be criminal, and as if they had come to know it.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
The King of Delhi had a hunting-lodge somewhere in the locality, but he had never seen the place.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for never

never

/ (ˈnɛvə) /

adverb, sentence substitute

at no time; not ever

certainly not; by no means; in no case

interjection

Also: well I never! surely not!

Word Origin for never

Old English nǣfre, from ne not + æfre ever

usage for never

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with never

never

In addition to the idioms beginning with never

never a dull moment
never fear
never give a sucker an even break
never had it so good, one
never hear the end of
never mind
never miss a trick
never put off until tomorrow
never say die
never say never

also see:

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

never

Idioms about never

Origin of never

Words nearby never

Words related to never

How to use never in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for never

Word Origin for never

usage for never

Other Idioms and Phrases with never