aren't

American  

[ahrnt, ahr-uhnt] / ɑrnt, ˈɑr ənt /

1. contraction of are not.

2. contraction of am not (used interrogatively).

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aren't British  

/ ɑːnt /

contraction

1. are not

2. informal (used in interrogative sentences) am not

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Usage

The social unacceptability of ain't, the historical contraction of am not, has created a gap in the pattern of verbal contractions. I'm not, the alternative to I ain't, has no corresponding interrogative form except ain't I. In questions, ain't I is often avoided by the use of aren't I: I'm right, aren't I? Aren't I on the list? This aren't is simply a different outcome of the same historical development that yielded ain't, but the fact that it is spelled and pronounced like the contraction of are not (as in You are staying, aren't you? ) apparently gives it, for some, an acceptability that ain't lacks. The use of aren't I is objected to by others because a declarative counterpart, I aren't, does not exist. Many speakers, however, prefer aren't I to the uncontracted, rather formal am I not. See also ain't, contraction.

Etymology

Origin of aren't

As contraction of am not, a doublet of ain't (without raising of the vowel), spelling aren't by r-less speakers; ar was later substituted for the long a by speakers who regularly pronounce pre-consonantal r

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aren't

Investors aren’t bracing for some shocking development that would cause a market swoon, but they’re unusually concerned about some specific stocks and sectors, according to Citadel Securities strategist Scott Rubner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

But there’s a bigger problem with the play: The characters just aren’t that interesting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Anthropic and ChatGPT might mean more competition for companies specialized in “software as a service,” like Oracle, but they aren’t likely to destroy the entire industry, Treacy said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

The incentives to create content about that infighting aren’t new, either.

From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026

‘You’re lucky the wheels aren’t bent,’ she said, ‘or I’d be really angry!’

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler