no
1 Americanadverb
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(a negative used to express dissent, denial, or refusal, as in response to a question or request).
“Have you done the dishes yet?” “No, not yet.”
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(used to emphasize or introduce a negative statement).
Not a single person came to the party, no, not a one.
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not in any degree or manner; not at all (used with a comparative).
He is no better.
interjection
adjective
noun
plural
noes, nos-
an utterance of the word “no.”
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a denial or refusal.
He responded with a definite no.
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a negative vote or voter.
The noes have it.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
idioms
adjective
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not any.
no money.
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not at all; far from being.
He is no genius.
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very little; negligible.
We got her to the hospital in no time.
noun
noun
abbreviation
-
north.
-
northern.
-
number.
abbreviation
-
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 disbelief
Alfred isn't dead yet. No?
noun
-
an answer or vote of no
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(often plural) a person who votes in the negative
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there is a majority of votes in the negative
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to continue in a course of action despite refusals
determiner
-
not any, not a, or not one
there's no money left
no card in the file
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not by a long way; not at all
she's no youngster
-
(followed by comparative adjectives and adverbs) not
no fewer than forty men
no more quickly than before
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See go 1
abbreviation
-
north(ern)
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Also: no. number
noun
noun
symbol
abbreviation
abbreviation
adverb
Usage
Plural word for no The plural form of no can be either nos or noes. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -o are also formed this way, as in mango/mangos/mangoes and mosquito/mosquitos/mosquitoes. In some instances, particularly in advertising and other public communications, the plural form of no is written with an apostrophe, as in no's. This is not considered standard, but it may be easier to understand in some contexts, because nos. (with a period at the end) is also used as an abbreviation for numbers and because many people are unfamiliar with the plural form of no. The word no is only pluralized when it is used as a noun rather than in its more common use as an adverb. The word no as a noun means "an answer or vote of no" or "a person who votes in the negative," as in The noes outnumbered the yeses.
Etymology
Origin of no1
First recorded before 900; Middle English no, na, Old English nā, from n(e) “not” + ā ay 1
Origin of no2
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; variant of none 1
Origin of Nō5
1870–75; < Japanese, earlier noũ < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese néng ability
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.
“It is no longer the same Mexico of my childhood,” said Ramírez, 45, who asked to be identified by his middle and last name for security reasons.
From Los Angeles Times
“That’s been my ultimate goal with every party — one big accepting space where everyone can let their freak flag fly and be whoever they want, with no judgment.”
From Los Angeles Times
Fortunately, Griffin has no ego — all that matters is winning.
From Los Angeles Times
That used to be self-evident for a starting pitcher, but no longer.
From Los Angeles Times
Irrationally tearing up alliances for no reason is a very dangerous game.
From Salon
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.
