never

American  

[nev-er] / ˈnɛv ər /

adverb

1. not ever; at no time.

   Such an idea never occurred to me.

2. not at all; absolutely not.

   never mind;

   This will never do.

3. to no extent or degree.

   He was never the wiser for his experience.

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idioms

1. never cease to amaze. never cease to amaze.

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

never British  

/ ˈnɛvə /

adverb

1. at no time; not ever

2. certainly not; by no means; in no case

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interjection

1. Also: well I never!.  surely not!

never More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing never

• 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

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Usage

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

Etymology

Origin of never

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

Example Sentences

U.S. stocks have never seen three negative “Santa Claus rally” periods in a row.

From MarketWatch

Its proud boast is that, since its inception in the Bush I administration, it has never been compromised.

From Los Angeles Times

We are told that “The Orphanage has never been compromised,” which is OK, since it never existed.

From The Wall Street Journal

A different president could bring another shift in tone, even if U.S. and European political priorities never again converge as closely as in the postwar decades.

From The Wall Street Journal

"When I started last season I never could expect to go in the transfer window with four or five players because we have 25 players injured and out of the situation," said Guardiola.

From BBC