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no

no

∞ 1.0
An answer that refuses a request or idea
  • noun
  • /noʊ/
: no
  • When asked if I wanted dessert, my answer was a firm no.
  • NO campaign
  • nasal NO
  • No's policy

Yes or no, yes or no, yes or no.

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Examples

  • And I was like, it's a hard no, We're good.

  • I know for me it started with saying no a lot more often.

  • Then I would say no, and I'll tell you why.

  • I'm going to say no, no, no.

  • And he says, no, I'm not going to do it.

  • OK, word to writers: Big Nos are rarely funny.

    Blog text (2)
  • She received a no from the committee after submitting her proposal.

  • His no to the invitation surprised everyone at the party.

Synonyms

nah
vsno
  • Informal
679 8.4

An informal way to say no

is the plain neutral negative reply without casual slang tone
yeah, no
vsno
  • UK
284 9.2

A short informal reply that politely says no or disagrees

is the direct reply without polite or softened framing
negative
vsno
198 2.5

A word or short statement that says no

is the simple everyday reply rather than a formal term
refusal
vsno
117 1.4

An act of saying you will not accept or agree to something

is the short spoken or written reply rather than the act
naw
vsno
  • Informal
56 9.9

A casual way to say no

is the direct negative reply without regional colouring
nay
vsno
  • Formal
51 8.4

A vote against a proposal in a meeting

is an ordinary spoken reply not reserved for formal votes
noo
vsno
  • Slang
16 9.9

A playful, strong way to say no

is the straightforward negative answer without playfulness or emphasis
nooo
vsno
  • Informal
12 8.7

A long, loud cry showing strong feelings like surprise or disappointment

is the simple brief negative reply without exaggerated emotion
nyet
vsno
  • Informal
11 9.9

To say no strongly using a Russian word

is the everyday neutral reply without foreign or emphatic tone
noooo
vsno
  • Informal
8 9.8

A long cry people make to show strong sadness or shock

is the short spoken or written reply without drawn-out length
heck no
vsno
  • Informal
5 8.9

A strong way to refuse a suggestion or request

is the simple reply without added force or emotion
nae
vsno
  • UK
3 9.9

A short exclamation meaning no to refuse something

is the general negative response not tied to any region
naa
vsno
  • Informal
2 9.9

A casual way to say no in conversation

is the general negative answer used across formal and informal settings
negatory
vsno
  • Slang
2 9.0

A short informal way to say no, often on radio

is the ordinary concise answer meaning denial without exclamation tone
no siree Bob
vsno
  • Informal
1 9.9

A strong informal phrase for refusing something

is the plain answer without the emphatic idiomatic style
nope
vsno
  • Informal
1 7.1

A casual spoken answer that means no

is the neutral standard short negative answer in many contexts
nooooo
vsno
  • Texting
9.5

A long written cry showing shock or refusal

is the neutral brief answer rather than a prolonged emotional reaction
noooooo
vsno
  • Texting
9.8

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

is the concise reply without dramatic extension

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

How Accepting

yes
∞ 1.0
acceptance
125 2.7
uncertainty
255 4.0
no
∞ 1.0
refusal
117 1.4

Surface Forms

no singular
nos plural

Etymology

No as a noun is simply the negative turned into the name of a single refusal or answer. It comes from the same old parts ne ('not') and ā ('ever'), so a 'no' is just a negative reply.