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nothing

nothing

∞ 1.0
Not anything of interest or value
  • pronoun
  • /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
: nada
  • He opened the box but found nothing inside.
  • nothing else
  • nothing more
  • nothing wrong

Their insecurity means nothing is ever enough.

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Examples

Synonyms

none
vsnothing
∞ 1.0

Not any of a group of people or things

is used broadly for total absence rather than within a specific group
nothin
vsnothing
  • Informal
701 9.9

Not anything or zero

is the standard written form rather than the casual nonstandard one
zero
vsnothing
465 1.0

Having no amount or value

is the general concept of lack not limited to measurable quantities
squat
vsnothing
  • Slang
51 8.1

An amount that is nothing

is the broad neutral term for lack without the slangy negation phrasing
nada
vsnothing
  • Informal
46 9.4

Nothing at all

is the neutral native English term rather than the casual borrowed expression
naught
vsnothing
  • Archaic
30 8.3

The state of having no value, result, or importance

is the neutral everyday term for absence rather than literary flavour
zip
vsnothing
  • Slang
28 8.1

Nothing at all often used informally to mean zero

is the common general expression rather than the casual slang term
nil
vsnothing
  • UK
25 5.1

No amount or value, meaning nothing at all

is the broad everyday expression for lack across many situations
zilch
vsnothing
  • Informal
15 8.5

Nothing at all

is the neutral word for absence without the strong slang emphasis
goose egg
vsnothing
  • Informal
9 8.1

A score or total of zero

is the general word for lack, not specifically about scores or results
aught
vsnothing
  • Archaic
9 9.9

Nothing of value or importance

is the common modern word used instead of this rare or old term
nowt
vsnothing
  • UK
7 9.9

Not anything at all

is the neutral, widely understood term rather than regional colloquial usage
zippo
vsnothing
  • Archaic
5 9.9

Nothing at all

is the regular term used without the slangy emphatic tone
diddley
vsnothing
  • Informal
2 9.9

A very small amount, almost nothing

is the neutral general notion of absence rather than a colloquial minimizer
nae
vsnothing
  • UK
1 9.9

No one or nothing in Scots dialect

is the standard neutral expression rather than the regional dialectal form

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

An unknown object or idea that is not named

∞ 1.0

All the things or all that someone has

Idioms

∞ 1.5

Only, not anything else

Not involved with a person or thing

407 2.1

At least one thing is true, even if no other thing is

To say that something is only what it is and not more important

To say that something is exactly as said to show strong feeling

Ordinary and not very interesting

A strong way to say that something is exactly or at least what you expect

Being fully committed to one plan with no compromise

21 7.9

Showing a particular quality very strongly

to nothing beats
  • Informal
19 4.0

You say this when one thing is better than all others

19 2.7

Simple and plain without anything special or expensive

To mention an extra fact that makes the situation seem more surprising or serious

15 9.0

A phrase people say when they are annoyed because someone does not help

14 7.4

A phrase people say to tell others nothing interesting or worrying is happening

To have everything you need and wish for

Not very impressive or special

3 6.8

A perfect basketball shot that goes through the net without touching the rim or backboard

nothing doing
  • Informal
2 8.1

A firm no when someone asks for something

2 7.8

Say this before trying something risky when you expect little success

nothing flat
  • Informal
2 8.5

Very quickly without delay

1 7.5

A lot of fuss about something unimportant

in nothing flat
  • Archaic
1 7.0

In a very short time

1 6.0

Things people say that are completely untrue or pointless

Too small to be important

Only top quality is acceptable

nothing to it
  • Informal
1 1.0

Very easy to do

9.9

To move with great ease and joy while showing confidence

9.5

Words or ideas that are complete nonsense and worthless

Compounds

good-for-nothing
  • Offensive
19 6.8

Not useful or worth much

11 7.5

Not willing or able to take action

know-nothing
  • Offensive
6 8.5

An insulting word for a person who has very little information

Allowing no compromise and happening completely or not at all

good-for-nothing
  • Offensive
3 7.1

A person who is lazy and does nothing useful

do-nothing
  • Offensive
1 7.0

A person who avoids work and makes little effort

Know-Nothing Party
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A 1850s American political party that opposed immigrants and Catholics

9.9

Complete nonsense that is not true

How Much

a lot
∞ 1.0
some
475 1.0
a little
∞ 1.0
nm
  • Slang
1 9.9
nothing
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

nothing subject case

Morphology

nothing = no + thing (transparent) = no + thing

The word is a straightforward compound of 'no' + 'thing' meaning 'not anything', which is directly inferable by learners.

Etymology

Nothing comes from Old English parts no ('not any') and thing ('object' or 'matter'), so it originally meant 'not any thing'. That's why as a pronoun it simply means 'not anything'.