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never
[ nev-er ]
/ ˈnɛv ər /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
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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Idioms about never
never mind, don't bother; don't concern yourself.
Origin of never
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English nǣfre, equivalent to ne “not” + ǣfre “ever”
Words nearby never
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use never in a sentence
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.