never en · ADV
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Old English ne Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiwder. Old English ā Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Germanic *in Proto-West Germanic *in Old English in Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *pérkus Proto-Germanic *ferhuzder.? Proto-Germanic *ferhwą Proto-West Germanic *ferh Old English feorh ? Old English ǣfre Old English nǣfre Middle English nevere English never From Middle English nevere, navere, nævere, from Old English nǣfre (“never”), equivalent to ne + ever.
Meanings
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(not-comparable) At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.
I'll never not like you.
I finally finished, and I never do wanna do it again.
We were at the same college, but happened never to meet.
"You don't believe the Soviet Union is going to reduce its defense budget, do you?" Boggs asked. Premier Chou didn't wait for the translator to finish. "Never, never, never," he replied in perfect English.
1980, Gerald Ford, “Boyhood—and Beyond”, in A Time to Heal, New York: Berkley Books, →ISBN, page 95:Why should I love this Gentleman? Tis odds / He never will affect me;
1613–1614 (date written), John Fletcher, William Shak[e]speare, The Two Noble Kinsmen: […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Waterson; […], published 1634, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 4:In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:"I never thought you were so fond of Mr. Phillips that you'd require two handkerchiefs to dry your tears just because he was going away," said Marilla.
1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Chapter XXI: A New Departure in Flavorings:Never speak of the symptoms of your patient in his presence, unless questioned by the doctor, whose orders you are always to obey implicitly.
1919, B. G. Jefferis, J. L. Nichols, Searchlights on Health: Sensible Rules for the Nurse:
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(not-comparable) Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.
There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel: I mean your love.
1601 November 30, Elizabeth I of England, Elizabeth I's Farewell Speech:"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"
1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Chapter XIII: The Delights of Anticipation, I never saw such an infatuated man.
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(colloquial, not-comparable) Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the simple past tense; also used absolutely).
"You're never going to break in?" "This instant, if you'll, help me; in five or ten minutes, if you won't."
1905, E. W. Horning, A Thief in the Night:The police say I stole the car, but I never did it.
Well I looked at Jay and I said "hey, did you hear what I just heard?" He nodded his head and his face turned red and he never said a word
1976, “C.B. Savage”, performed by Rod Hart:You said you were going to mow the lawn today. – I never!
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ne'er | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| nevuh | alternative, pronunciation-spelling | lexicographic | |
| neber | alternative, pronunciation-spelling | lexicographic | |
| nevah | alternative, pronunciation-spelling | lexicographic | |
| nev'r | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| neuer | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| neva | alternative, pronunciation-spelling | lexicographic |
Antonyms
continually · continuously · all the time · always · ever · consistently · constantly · forever
Deriveds
now-or-never · never-do-well · never-married · never-wozzer · never-sweat · the fox may grow grey but never good · lightning never strikes twice in the same place · a wild goose never laid a tame egg · you are never too old to learn · never-smoker · never fear · misfortunes never come singly · never trust me · neverfade · you never know what you've got till it's gone · nevertheless · neverthelater · never the wiser · I never miss · never-dying · never event · never put off until tomorrow what you can do today · never-was-er · barking dogs never bite · now or never · faint heart never won fair maiden · never in a million years · the course of true love never did run smooth · never have I ever · never look a gift horse in the mouth · never ask the barber if you need a haircut · never-was'er · I have never · never judge a book by its cover · never been kissed · never ever · nearly never bulled a cow · never mind · the camera never lies · never-ending · neversmoker · never say die · you're never too old to learn · September that never ended · do a never · never meet your heroes · a watched pot never boils over · cheats never prosper · misfortunes never come alone · a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor · nevermind · nevermore · never you mind · Nevuary · I never did · a watched pot never boils · never-wasser · never eat soggy wheat · never Trumper · beauty never boiled the pot · never-nude · never the twain shall meet · watched toast never burns · Deadly Never-Green · I thought you'd never ask · never sick at sea · better late than never · neverthriving · never-never land · never change a running system · a magician never reveals his secrets · neverland · never start a land war in Asia · a woman's work is never done · you'll never guess · never-be · it never rains but that it pours · never eat soggy waffles · Neveruary · never-would-be · neverthemore · one should never meet one's heroes · lightning never strikes twice · you never miss the water until the well runs dry · the wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature · you never miss the water till the well runs dry · never-waser · the Internet never forgets · tomorrow never comes · never eat shredded wheat · never eat soggy Weet-Bix · neverness · it never rains but it pours · never in a month of Sundays · ill-gotten gains never prosper · you never know · a barking dog never bites · a dumb priest never got a parish · never waste a crisis · on the never never · never-Trumper · never fight a land war in Asia · blue and green should never be seen · never-say-die · neverending · never say never · never smoker · first of never · never-never · Never Never · it's never too late to mend · neverwet · faint heart never won fair lady · never ever have I · wonders never cease · cheaters never prosper · never a dull moment · welcome-home-husband-though-never-so-drunk · I've never heard it called that before · a watched kettle never boils · never-was · the apple never falls far from the tree · never again · nearly never won the race
Hyponyms
unprecedentedly · no more · nevermore · never again · unprecedently
Relateds
first of never · Greek calends · February 31 · never in a month of Sundays · frequency · never in a million years · Neveruary · a cold day in Hell
Synonyms
never ever · never · when Hell freezes over · when two Sundays meet · at no time · sine die · on the second Tuesday of the week · when pigs fly · not while pussy's a cat · ne'er · in the reign of Queen Dick · when two Sundays come together · at latter Lammas
Translations (222)
el ποτέ (at no time) · hi कभी नहीं (at no time) · nv tsʼídá háadi da (at no time) · nl nimmer (at no time) · crh iç bir vaqıt (at no time) · lo ບໍ່ຈັກເທື່ອ (at no time) · sah ончу (at no time) · de nimmer (at no time) · sq asnjëherë (at no time) · fa ابداً (at no time) · grc μήποτε (at no time) · pdc sei Daag des Lewes net (at no time) · ms تيدق اکن (at no time) · et eales (at no time) · pl nigdy (at no time) · de niemals (at no time) · sq kurrë (at no time) · fro onques (at no time) · ga riamh (at no time) · ka არასდროს (at no time) · es nunca (at no time) · km មិនដែល (at no time) · ang nǣfre (at no time) · tk hiç haçan (at no time) · af nooit (at no time) · th ไม่เคย (at no time) · nah ayouica (at no time) · lt niekada (at no time) · yi קיינמאָל (at no time) · de nie (at no time) · lb ni (at no time) · lo ບໍ່ເຄີຍ (at no time) · uz hech qachon (at no time) · uz aslo (at no time) · ast nunca (at no time) · ckb قەد (at no time) · mk никогаш (at no time) · an nunca (at no time) · sh никад (at no time) · ja 曾て (at no time) · es jamás (at no time) · br biken biskoazh james (at no time) · sl níkdar (at no time) · ky эч качан (at no time) · nrf janmais (at no time) · tr asla (at no time) · pdc nimmi (at no time) · ba бер ҡасан да (at no time) · cmn 未曾 (at no time) · gl ar (at no time) · acw أبدًا (at no time) · fo ongantíð (at no time) · pdt nienich (nds) (at no time) · et iial (at no time) · tt һичвакыт (at no time) · ka ვერასდროს (at no time) · az heç vədə (at no time) · grc οὔποτε (at no time) · it mai (at no time) · bo ཁྱོན་ནས (at no time) · id tidak akan (at no time) · cs nikdy (at no time) · bi neva (at no time) · ist mai (at no time) · vi không bao giờ (at no time) · sh nikada (at no time) · uz hech (at no time) · hu sohase (at no time) · kk еш уақытта (at no time) · cmn 從不 /从不 (at no time) · sv aldrig (at no time) · lb keemools (at no time) · ja 決して (at no time) · lb keemol (at no time) · pdc nimmermehr (at no time) · izh ikinää (at no time) · io nultempe (at no time) · ja 万々 (at no time) · ga go deo (at no time) · cu николижє (at no time) · lb nimools (at no time) · sa न कर्हिचित (at no time) · tg ҳеҷ вақт (at no time) · he לעולם לא (at no time) · cmn 從來 /从来 (at no time) · aii ܗܸܟ̰ ܓܵܗܵܐ (at no time) · bn না (at no time) · mi hore kau (at no time) · eu inoiz ez (at no time) · tr hiç (at no time) · tg ҳаргиз (at no time) · gd gu bràth (at no time) · sco niver (at no time) · gl nunca (at no time) · rcf zamé (at no time) · mwl nunca (at no time) · gd riamh (at no time) · grc οὐδέποτε (at no time) · aeb خْلَاصْ (at no time) · ur کبھی نہیں (at no time) · kmr ticar (at no time) · tg абадан (at no time) · is aldrei (at no time) · el ουδέποτε (at no time) · scn mai (at no time) · br morse (at no time) · tg асло (at no time) · ja 万々 (at no time) · mi kā(h)ore kau (at no time) · nds-de mien Leevdag nich (at no time) · ka ვერასოდეს (at no time) · pdc seilewes net (at no time) · vo neai (at no time) · pt jamais (at no time) · ro niciodată (at no time) · rue нї́ґда (at no time) · hu sosem (at no time) · pdc sei Lewe net (at no time) · ms tidak akan (at no time) · lv nekad (at no time) · pam anjandirit (at no time) · ru никогда́ (at no time) · fi ei milloinkaan (at no time) · mn ер үгүй (at no time) · frr oler (at no time) · mi kore rawa (at no time) · pdc nimme (at no time) · ms tidak pernah (at no time) · mi kā(h)ore rawa (at no time) · bo རྩ་བ་ནས (at no time) · ab ахаан (at no time) · izh konskaa (at no time) · pdc seilewe net (at no time) · sh никада (at no time) · uk ніко́ли (at no time) · kmr hîç (carekê jî) (at no time) · aeb جِمْلَة (at no time) · pt nunca (at no time) · fo aldri (at no time) · tr hiçbir zaman (at no time) · ja 何時でも (at no time) · wes neba (at no time) · sa न सदा (at no time) · oc jamai (at no time) · sw kamwe (at no time) · fi ei koskaan (at no time) · pdc niemols (at no time) · ee gbeɖe (at no time) · sa न कदापि (at no time) · br nepred (at no time) · fy nea (at no time) · sl nikóli (at no time) · nb aldri (at no time) · ms تيدق ڤرنه (at no time) · pdc seilebbdaag net (at no time) · wyi ta-goong (at no time) · jra ngai (at no time) · ca mai (at no time) · cy erioed (at no time) · fa هرگز (at no time) · az heç vaxt (at no time) · ja 全く (at no time) · id tidak pernah (at no time) · ro nicicând (at no time) · kk ешқашан (at no time) · gl xamais (at no time) · chr Ꮭ ᎢᎸᎯᏳ (at no time) · be ніко́лі (at no time) · cmn 不曾 (at no time) · hu sose (at no time) · la numquam (at no time) · da aldrig (at no time) · nds-de niemals (at no time) · sk nikdy (at no time) · kk бұрын-соңды (at no time) · frm oncques (at no time) · mn хэзээ ч үгүй (at no time) · fro jamés (at no time) · hy երբեք (at no time) · mt qatt (at no time) · cmn 從未 /从未 (at no time) · nl nooit (at no time) · nn aldri (at no time) · aii ܠܵܐ ܠܥܵܠܲܡ (at no time) · ast enxamás (at no time) · pdc nie (at no time) · mfe zame (at no time) · fa هیچوقت (at no time) · hu sohasem (at no time) · ckb ھیچ (at no time) · haw ʻaʻole (at no time) · hy բնավ (at no time) · uz hech vaqt (at no time) · ccc mepolajyaka (at no time) · kmr qet (at no time) · eo neniam (at no time) · nds-de niemols (at no time) · gd a-chaoidh (at no time) · gsw nie (at no time) · ko 절대로 (at no time) · sh nikad (at no time) · ckb ھەرگیز (at no time) · it giammai (at no time) · pdc sei Lebbdaag net (at no time) · ky эч убакта (at no time) · sa न कदाचित् (at no time) · fr jamais (at no time) · aeb أَبَدًا (at no time) · he אַף פַּעַם (at no time) · pdc keemols (at no time) · ko 결코 (at no time) · pam agyandirit (at no time) · fi ei ikinä (at no time) · ar أَبَدًا (at no time) · ka არასოდეს (at no time) · frm iamays (at no time) · gl endexamais (at no time) · sc mai (at no time) · io nulatempe (at no time) · pdt kjeenmol (at no time) · os никӕд (at no time) · cy byth (at no time)