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Definition
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adverb
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noun
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adverb
2
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Example Sentences
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Word History
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Phrases Containing
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1
—used as a function word to make negative a group of words or a word
2
—used as a function word to stand for the negative of a preceding group of words
is sometimes hard to see and sometimes not
: a logical operator (see operator sense 3a) that produces a statement that is the inverse (see inverse entry 2 sense 3a) of an input statement
Examples of not in a Sentence
Adverb
He was standing not six feet away from me.
The bullet passed not five inches from my head!
Word History
Phrases Containing not
- absolutely not
- afraid not
- (and) not before time (too)
- as like as not
- as often as not
- believe it or not
- be not a patch on
- certainly not
- children should be seen and not heard
- definitely not
- do not mix
- fear not
- forget-me-not
- have-not
- hope not
- if it had not been for
- if it were not for
- if not
- if not for
- I kid you not
- in the not too distant future
- is it not the case
- I think not
- it is not every day
- it is not for lack/want of trying
- last but not least
- like as not
- more often than not
- must not
- never/not dream of
- never/not hear the end of it
- never/not in a thousand/million/billion years
- never/not miss a trick
- none/not too thrilled
- no/not later than
- no/not more than
- not a bad thing
- not a bit of it
- not a blind bit
- not a dry eye in the house
- not all there
- not a moment too soon
- not amount to much
- not any good
- not any longer
- not a/one bit
- not a penny less/more
- not a pretty sight
- not a problem
- not a sausage
- not at all
- not bad
- not badly
- not bat an eye/eyelash
- not bat an eyelid
- not believe
- not blame
- not bloody likely!
- not by a long chalk
- not by a long shot
- not by any manner of means
- not by any means
- not called for
- not care/give a fig
- not come/go amiss
- not cost a dime/nickel
- not cost a penny
- not cricket
- not dissimilar
- not do
- not do much for
- not especially
- not (even) blink
- not exactly
- not fool about
- not fool around
- not for all the tea in China
- not for a/one minute
- not for a/one moment
- not-for-profit
- not for (someone) to (do something)
- not for the faint of heart
- not for the squeamish
- not for want of
- not get a wink of sleep
- not getting any younger
- not give a monkey's
- not give a toss
- not give (someone) the time of day
- not half
- not half bad
- not have a care in the world
- not have a hair out of place
- not have a leg to stand on
- not have any use for
- not have a stitch on
- not have it in one
- not have the faintest idea/notion
- not have the faintest/slightest idea
- not have the foggiest
- not have to
- not have to be that way
- not hear of
- nothing if not
- not in any/a hurry
- not inconsiderable
- not infrequent
- not infrequently
- not in one's right mind
- not in someone's vocabulary
- not (in) the least
- not (in) the least/smallest/slightest/tiniest bit
- not in the same league
- not in the slightest
- not just
- not just a/another pretty face
- not just/only/merely
- not know beans about
- not know one's own strength
- not know someone from Adam
- not know the first thing about
- not know what the world is coming to
- not know where someone gets off
- not know whether to laugh or cry
- not least
- not likely
- not like that
- not like the look of
- not like the sound of (something)
- not long ago
- not long for
- not long for this world
- not look a day over
- not make any difference
- not make head or/nor tail of
- not make heads or/nor tails (out) of
- not making much sense
- not many
- not mean a damn
- not merely
- not mince (one's) words
- not much
- not much call for
- not much cop
- not much good
- not much good at
- not much of a
- not much on
- not much to look at
- not nearly
- not necessarily
- not on
- not on any account
- not one person
- not one red cent
- not on your life
- not particularly
- not pay any attention to
- not pay (someone) any mind
- not really
- not right in the head
- not rightly
- not say/breathe a word
- not see the forest for the trees
- not see the wood for the trees
- not see why not
- not sit with
- not sleep a wink
- not so fast
- not so long ago
- not someone's concern
- not someone's problem
- not someone's scene
- not someone's style
- not someone's type
- not so much (something) as (something else)
- not speak a word
- not speak a word of
- not swear to it
- not take any chances
- not take no for an answer
- not that
- not that I mind
- not that it matters
- not that one knows of
- not the end of the world
- not the faintest interest
- not the only fish in the sea
- not the type
- not think anything of
- not think much of
- not to be missed
- not to be sniffed at
- not to mention
- not (too) shabby
- not to put too fine a point on it
- not to say
- not touch a drop
- not touch (someone or something) with a bargepole
- not touch (someone or something) with a ten-foot pole
- not to worry
- not turn a hair
- not under any circumstances/under no circumstances
- not under any obligation
- not unless
- not unlike
- not until
- not up to expectations
- not up to much
- not utter a word
- not wearing a stitch (of clothes/clothing)
- not worry oneself
- not worth a damn
- not worth a darn
- not worth the candle
- not worth the paper it's written/printed on
- of course not
- one's heart is (just) not in something
- that's not saying much
- that's not to say
- time is not on someone's side
- touch-me-not
- used not to
- waste not, want not
- whether or not
- wittingly or not
Articles Related to not
Dictionary Entries Near not
Cite this Entry
“Not.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
not
adverb1
—used to make a word or group of words negative
the books are not here
2
—used to stand for the negative of a group of words that comes before
is sometimes hard to see and sometimes not
More from Merriam-Webster on not
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for not
Nglish: Translation of not for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of not for Arabic Speakers
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