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no

no

∞ 1.0
To show refusal, denial, or a total lack of something
  • adverb
  • /noʊ/
: no
  • When offered dessert, he shook his head and replied, no.
  • no longer
  • no less
  • no doubt

And then I thought, Oh no, I hate this.

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Examples

  • And then they tell you, Oh no, that is not real.

  • And then I thought, Oh no, I hate this.

  • And I thought, no, what I feel is OK.

  • No, no, but you see me like, no, it's not.

  • And the answer seems to be no, it doesn't.

  • And the claim I make is no, they're not.

  • And what he says is no, don't do that.

  • And she was like, no, no, no, don't worry.

  • Jane's no longer at the firm, but this is her address.

  • As a result, scholars and policymakers can no longer approach countries on a case-by-case basis.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

not at all
vsno
∞ 1.0

In no way

is a general negative not always stressing total absence
nah
vsno
  • Informal
679 8.4

An informal way to say no

is the general neutral negative used across contexts and tones
nope
vsno
  • Informal
414 7.7

A casual spoken way to say no

is the neutral adverb used in any register to show denial
yeah, no
vsno
  • UK
284 9.2

A short informal reply that politely says no or disagrees

is the direct negative without softening or conversational buffer
naw
vsno
  • Informal
56 9.9

A casual way to say no

is the simple negative adverb usable in serious or neutral tone
noo
vsno
  • Slang
16 9.9

A playful, strong way to say no

is the plain negative without playful or emphatic emphasis
noooo
vsno
  • Informal
8 9.8

A long cry people make to show strong sadness or shock

is the neutral denial without stretching or emotional emphasis
nooooo
vsno
  • Informal
6 9.5

A long loud cry that shows shock, protest, or disappointment

is the concise negative used without dramatic emotional lengthening
heck no
vsno
  • Informal
5 8.9

A strong way to refuse a suggestion or request

is the neutral negative without added force or slang emphasis
no way, Jose
vsno
  • Informal
4 8.8

A strong informal way to say no

is the plain negative used without idiomatic emphasis or address
naa
vsno
  • Informal
2 9.9

A casual way to say no in conversation

is the formal neutral negative used beyond casual settings
negatory
vsno
  • Slang
2 9.0

A short informal way to say no, often on radio

is the standard negative form without exclamatory style
no siree Bob
vsno
  • Informal
1 9.9

A strong informal phrase for refusing something

is the modern neutral negative lacking emphatic, vintage tone
noooooo
vsno
  • Texting
9.8

A long dramatic no used in messages to show strong refusal or sadness

is the short, matter-of-fact negative lacking dramatic emphasis

Antonyms

yes
∞ 1.0

An answer that shows agreement or permission

Idioms

∞ 2.2

Whatever happens, it makes no difference

no problem
  • Informal
789 1.0

Saying that something can be done easily or that you do not need to worry

784 1.8

Shows that something is almost certainly true, often before saying something different

735 3.2

Something is true whatever way it happens

341 1.3

Not having more of a quality than someone or something else

284 9.2

A short informal reply that politely says no or disagrees

221 5.7

Not acceptable in a particular situation

188 2.5

An action that will not help

Have to do something because there are no other options

156 1.3

Very quickly, in a short time

A phrase that says something will happen despite problems

no kidding
  • Informal
95 6.0

To show you really mean what you say

no comment
  • Literature
92 3.5

A short answer saying you will not give information, often to journalists

92 3.8

Not enough space or chance for what you want

no worries
  • Informal
84 6.6

A friendly reply that tells someone there is no problem

80 2.8

Not enjoyable to do or be around

74 4.2

To say that something is not true or not possible at all

no end
  • Informal
70 7.7

Very much or for a very long time

no pressure
  • Informal
69 3.3

There is no need to hurry or feel forced

64 5.5

Not able to beat them because they are stronger or better

63 1.6

Whatever the situation, the action or result stays the same

no regrets
  • Informal
58 5.2

Not feeling sorry about something you did

no hard feelings
  • Informal
51 4.8

Not angry or upset after an argument

A point after which you cannot go back or undo a decision

29 4.2

Says that something must never happen in any situation

up to no good
  • Informal
29 7.4

Acting in a secret or suspicious way to do something wrong

to say no more
  • Informal
23 4.9

To stop talking because more words are not needed or would not be right

no biggie
  • Informal
20 8.5

Not a serious problem you need to worry about

no joy
  • Informal
19 8.7

Not getting any success when you try something

no holds barred
  • Informal
19 6.5

To act with no rules or limits, often in a very direct way

A polite phrase to say someone is dead or something no longer exists

In a very clear, direct way that leaves no doubt

To have no pain because of medicine or alcohol

A situation that needs action right away

no dice
  • Informal
10 9.7

Not possible or allowed

no harm, no foul
  • Informal
9 8.4

Nothing bad happened, so it is okay

Try every possible way and search everywhere to achieve a goal

no love lost
  • Informal
8 8.3

A strong dislike between two people or groups

Say something openly and directly without hiding it

no there there
  • Literature
6 9.9

Something that has no real substance or important facts

A difficult and impressive achievement

no pain, no gain
  • Informal
6 4.2

To work hard or accept some pain to reach a worthwhile goal

Whatever the result, it does not change what someone does or feels

no bueno
  • Slang
5 9.9

An informal way to say that something is not good or acceptable

heck no
  • Informal
5 8.9

A strong way to refuse a suggestion or request

4 8.3

To show that something is certain or clear

4 7.7

You must be brave and take risks to succeed

no way, Jose
  • Informal
4 8.8

A strong informal way to say no

To try something new in a place or way no one has done before

3 7.6

People say this when they have a lot of work and little rest

no duh
  • Slang
3 9.9

Shows that something is obvious and should be known

It is not true or possible in any way

Compounds

no-good
  • Informal
548 5.6

Bad or worthless and often causing trouble

537 1.4

A situation in which you must do something because nothing else is possible

172 2.8

A situation in which doing something will not help

no-brainer
  • Informal
57 3.4

An easy decision that needs little thought

no-no
  • Informal
56 6.3

A thing or action that people say is not allowed

44 4.0

A person expected at an appointment who does not arrive and gives no notice

24 4.6

Serious and practical, refusing silly or unnecessary things

A moment in a process after which you cannot go back

no-hitter
  • Jargon
20 6.7

A baseball game in which a pitcher does not allow any hits by the other team

An agreement with no conditions and no need for anything in return

no man's land
  • Informal
15 7.4

A situation between two clear sides where rules are unclear

A situation where every choice leads to a bad result

no-life
  • Offensive
12 9.6

A person who spends most of their time alone and has little social life

A question you can answer with yes or no

An area of land that nobody owns or lives in, often between enemy lines

7 3.8

Simple and basic without extra services or decoration

no-account
  • Offensive
5 9.4

Having little value or importance

4 1.4

A game in which neither team has any points

4 8.0

A political group that always opposes proposals and offers no alternatives

no-account
  • Offensive
3 8.9

A person who does not keep a steady job

An area where drivers must not leave their cars

no fault insurance
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A system where each driver's own plan pays for their crash costs no matter who caused it

no-go area
  • Literature
1 7.5

A place people are afraid to enter or are not allowed to enter because it is dangerous

no-trump
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A bridge contract where no card suit beats the others

no ball
  • UK
1 7.0

A ball bowled against the rules that gives the batting team a free hit on the next ball

1 5.6

Car insurance where each driver gets money from their own insurance company after a crash, no matter who caused it

1 9.9

A very small flying insect that makes itchy bites on people and animals

no-hit wonder
  • Literature
1 8.8

A person, group, or work that never becomes popular and has no hit

No Such Agency
  • Informal
1 7.9

A joking name for the US spy agency used to say it is secret or not real

no-hit game
  • Jargon
1 5.9

A baseball game when a pitcher does not let the other team get any hits

no-good ass
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts badly and cannot be trusted

no-good
  • Jargon
1 6.7

A check that the bank will not pay because the account has no money

1 3.5

A number for a post office box where you collect mail

Freedom from stress or need to do well in a task

fashion no-no
  • Informal
1 7.4

A clothing choice people think is not acceptable in style

Simple restaurant food that costs little and has few extras

no-account loser
  • Offensive
1 9.6

A person others think is useless and not successful

no-par stock
  • Specialized
1 9.5

Stock without a fixed minimum price set by the company

Nigel no friends
  • Offensive
9.9

A person with no friends who others jokingly call lonely

no-good slacker
  • Offensive
8.4

A person who is very lazy and not responsible

no-life attitude
  • Informal
9.1

A way of living with little or no social life

No Fun City
  • Informal
9.9

A place that is boring and has few fun things to do

no-account friend
  • Offensive
8.3

A friend who cannot be trusted to help you

no-no spot
  • Informal
9.6

A place where something is not allowed

no-par-value stock
  • Specialized
7.9

A share that has no fixed value stated by the company

total no-life
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who spends most time alone and does not go out with friends

Surface Forms

no positive

Etymology

No as an adverb comes from old parts ne ('not') and ā ('ever'), so it originally meant 'not ever'. That's why no is the short word we use today to show a negative, a refusal, or an absence.