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View synonyms for nothing

nothing

[ nuhth-ing ]

noun

  1. no thing; not anything; naught:

    to say nothing.

  2. no part, share, or trace (usually followed by of ):

    The house showed nothing of its former magnificence.

  3. something that is nonexistent.
  4. The sound faded to nothing.

  5. something of no importance or significance:

    Wealth is nothing if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it.

  6. a trivial action, matter, circumstance, thing, or remark:

    to exchange a few nothings when being introduced.

  7. a person of little or no importance; a nobody.
  8. something that is without quantity or magnitude.
  9. a cipher or naught:

    Nothing from nine leaves nine.

  10. (used in conventional responses to expressions of thanks):

    Think nothing of it. It's nothing. Nothing to it.



adverb

  1. in no respect or degree; not at all:

    It was nothing like that. Nothing dismayed, he repeated his question.

adjective

  1. amounting to nothing, as in offering no prospects for satisfaction, advancement, or the like:

    She was stuck in a nothing job.

nothing

/ ˈnʌθɪŋ /

pronoun

  1. indefinite no thing; not anything, as of an implied or specified class of things

    I can give you nothing

  2. no part or share

    to have nothing to do with this crime

  3. a matter of no importance or significance

    it doesn't matter, it's nothing

  4. indicating the absence of anything perceptible; nothingness
  5. indicating the absence of meaning, value, worth, etc

    to amount to nothing

  6. zero quantity; nought
  7. be nothing to
    1. not to concern or be significant to (someone)
    2. to be not nearly as good as
  8. have nothing to do with or be nothing to do with
    to have no connection with
  9. have nothing on or have got nothing on
    1. to have no engagements to keep
    2. to be undressed or naked
    3. to compare unfavourably with
  10. in nothing flat informal.
    in almost no time; very quickly or soon
  11. nothing but
    not something other than; only
  12. nothing doing informal.
    an expression of dismissal, disapproval, lack of compliance with a request, etc
  13. nothing if not
    at the very least; certainly
  14. nothing less than or nothing short of
    downright; truly
  15. there's nothing for it
    there's no choice; there's no other course
  16. there's nothing like
    a general expression of praise

    there's nothing like a good cup of tea

  17. there's nothing to it
    it is very simple, easy, etc
  18. think nothing of
    1. to regard as routine, easy, or natural
    2. to have no compunction or hesitation about
    3. to have a very low opinion of
  19. to say nothing of
    as well as; even disregarding

    he was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of his thick overcoat

  20. stop at nothing
    to be prepared to do anything; be unscrupulous or ruthless
“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

adverb

  1. in no way; not at all

    he looked nothing like his brother

“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

noun

  1. informal.
    a person or thing of no importance or significance
  2. sweet nothings
    words of endearment or affection
“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
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Usage

Nothing normally takes a singular verb, but when nothing but is followed by a plural form of a noun, a plural verb is usually used: it was a large room where nothing but souvenirs were sold
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Word History and Origins

Origin of nothing1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English nānthing, nathing; no 2, thing 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of nothing1

Old English nāthing, nān thing, from nān none 1+ thing 1
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. for nothing,
    1. free of charge.
    2. for no apparent reason or motive.
    3. futilely; to no avail:

      They had gone to a great deal of expense for nothing.

  2. in nothing flat, in very little time:

    Dinner was finished in nothing flat.

  3. make nothing of,
    1. to treat lightly; regard as easy.
    2. to be unsuccessful in comprehending:

      He could make nothing of the complicated directions.

  4. nothing but, nothing other than; only:

    We could see nothing but fog.

  5. nothing doing,
    1. Informal. emphatically no; certainly not.
    2. no activity, inducement, advantage, etc., present to the eye:

      We drove through the town but there seemed to be nothing doing.

  6. nothing less than / short of, absolutely; completely:

    She was used to nothing less than the best.

  7. think nothing of,
    1. to treat casually.
    2. to regard as insignificant:

      He thinks nothing of lying to conceal his incompetence.

More idioms and phrases containing nothing

  • come to nothing
  • count for (nothing)
  • go for nothing
  • have nothing on
  • have nothing to do with
  • here goes (nothing)
  • in no time (nothing flat)
  • leave a lot (nothing) to be desired
  • make nothing of
  • make something of (nothing)
  • much ado about nothing
  • not know beans (from nothing)
  • not to mention (say nothing of)
  • stop at nothing
  • sweet nothings
  • think nothing of
  • want for nothing
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Example Sentences

She said her twin was "shot like a gangster" in her own home, adding: "This gun crime has ripped a hole in my family and there is nothing we can do about it."

From BBC

The PBH then might escape the object if the object was impacted by an asteroid, leaving nothing but a hollow shell.

He also insisted that the “United States has nothing to do with this offensive”.

From BBC

In reality, Patel had nothing to do with it at all.

From Salon

"From breaking down silos across government to harnessing the incredible potential of technology and innovation, it will require nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state to deliver bold and ambitious long-term reform."

From BBC

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Related Words

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.

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