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• not
  not

  adverb

  (used to express negation, denial, refusal, or prohibition).
• NOT
  NOT

  noun

  a Boolean operator that returns a positive result if its operand is negative and a negative result if its operand is positive.
• not-
  not-

  variant of noto- before a vowel.

not

¹ American  

[not] / nɒt /

adverb

1. (used to express negation, denial, refusal, or prohibition).

   You must not do that. It's not far from here.

2. U.S. Slang. (used jocularly as a postpositive interjection to indicate that a previous statement is untrue).

   I just love working overtime without pay. Not!

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idioms

1. not so much, (an expression of dismissive scorn, ambivalence, or skepticism).

   Attractive? Yes. Smart? Not so much.

   Is the world coming to an end? Yeah, not so much.

NOT ² American  

[not] / nɒt /

noun

1. a Boolean operator that returns a positive result if its operand is negative and a negative result if its operand is positive.

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not- ³ American  

1. variant of noto- before a vowel.

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not ¹ British  

/ nɒt /

adverb

1. 1. used to negate the sentence, phrase, or word that it modifies

      I will not stand for it

   2. ( in combination )

      they cannot go

2. Also (archaic): not but what.  (conjunction) which is not to say or suppose that

   I expect to lose the game — not that I mind

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1. used to indicate denial, negation, or refusal

   certainly not

not- ² British  

combining form

1. a variant of noto-

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not More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing not

• (not a) Chinaman's chance
• (not to) sneeze at
• (not) all there
• (not) at all
• (not) in the least
• (not) in the mood
• (not) move a muscle
• (not) take no for an answer
• (not) the half of it
• (not) turn a hair
• all that glitters is not gold
• believe it or not
• can't
• caught dead, not be
• coming or going, not know if
• couldn't
• do as I say (not as I do)
• game is not worth the candle
• heart (not) in it
• hold one's breath, not
• it's (not) your funeral
• last but not least
• like as not
• living soul, not a
• mince matters, not to
• more often than not
• no problem (not to worry)
• two wrongs do not make a right
• waste not, want not
• whether or not
• without a (not a) leg to stand on
• won't (will not) hear of
• wouldn't

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Etymology

Origin of not

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; weak variant of nought

Explanation

The adverb not is used for negation. Do you like drinking cod liver oil? No, I do not like drinking cod liver oil. Not is a powerful word. When Hamlet says "to be or not to be," he is questioning whether he should live or die, the inverse of living. Just be careful of what's called a "double negative," where you use not with another negating word and end up negating your negation. If you say you don't know nothing about something, that means you do know something. Not is often contracted as in don't, or isn't.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

not NOT not-

The research is based on sound scientific principles and methods, said Rob Jackson, a climate scientist at Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability who was not involved in the study.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Curry made him a Bozo hiding sharp teeth, which was terrifying but not alluring in the least.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

On the one hand, the move is transparently self-interested: “Meta plainly did not want to be the only platform competing with one hand tied behind its back,” Engstrom said.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

Facing Rapid Vienna in the Conference League play-off represented another tough tie, though not considered as tough as either Sturm Graz or Benfica.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

It was bright, beautiful, but not inscribed US.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

"The original/real vocalists of Milli Vanilli…will NOT be performing their hits live at the Great American State Fair. Others using the name Milli Vanilli should be considered a tribute band," the group said.

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

On its website, Westfield Mall of the Netherlands announced "that the introduction of Swatch in collaboration with Audemars Piguet will NOT go ahead. The store will remain closed this weekend".

From Barron's ● May 16, 2026

Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffith reported that U.S. officials said “this is NOT a restarting of the war.”

From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026

We should thank Bill Plaschke for predicting that the aging Dodgers will NOT three-peat this fall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 28, 2026

The prince of the Red Woods glared at his friend and said, “I AM NOT A BUNNY!”

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

We are lucky he cares about the fans despite his own not- so- pleasant long and winding road to 75 and beyond.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2019

Instead, around 30 designers of fashionable modest wear- some Muslim and others not- from nearly two dozen countries showcased their long-sleeved and floor-length pieces on large screens.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 29, 2018

"I assumed that it didn't matter who won - it is still a big party. But I guess it's not- I guess there's more politics involved," he said.

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2016

Of course not- especially at an elementary school level!

From New York Times ● May 4, 2012

He raised the conch for a moment "Very well then. I suppose what's what is whether there are ghosts or not-" He thought for a moment, formulating the question.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding