Definition of 'no'

no

(noʊ )

Word forms: plural noes , plural no's

1. convention

You use no to give a negative response to a question.

'Any problems?'—'No, I'm O.K.'

'Haven't you got your driver's licence?'—'No.'

2. convention

You use no to say that something that someone has just said is not true.

'We thought you'd emigrated.'—'No, no.'

'You're getting worse than me.'—'No I'm not.'

3. convention

You use no to refuse an offer or a request, or to refuse permission.

'Here, have mine.'—'No, this is fine.'

'Can you just get the message through to Pete for me?'—'No, no I can't.'

After all, the worst the boss can do is say no if you ask him.

4. exclamation

You use no to indicate that you do not want someone to do something.

No. I forbid it. You cannot.

She put up a hand to stop him. 'No. It's not right. We mustn't.'

5. convention

You use no to acknowledge a negative statement or to show that you accept and understand it.

'We're not on the main campus.'—'No.'

'It's not one of my favourite forms of music.'—'No.'

'I don't know him, do I?'—'No, you don't.'

6. convention

You use no before correcting what you have just said.

I was twenty-two–no, twenty-one.

7. exclamation

You use no to express shock or disappointment at something you have just been told.

[feelings]

'John phoned to say that his computer wasn't working.'—'Oh God no.'

8. determiner

You use no to mean not any or not one person or thing.

He had no intention of paying the cash.

No job has more influence on the future of the world.

No letters survive from this early period.

9. determiner

You use no to emphasize that someone or something is not the type of thing mentioned.

[emphasis]

He is no singer.

I make it no secret that our worst consultants earn nothing.

10. adverb

You can use no to make the negative form of a comparative.

It is to start broadcasting no later than the end of next year.

Yesterday no fewer than thirty climbers reached the summit.

It would be unfair to suggest that he will be no more effective than his predecessors.

He liked the Secretary no better than his assistant.

11. determiner

You use no in front of an adjective and noun to make the noun group mean its opposite.

Sometimes a bit of selfishness, if it leads to greater self-knowledge, is no bad thing.

Today's elections are of no great importance in themselves.

12. determiner

No is used in notices or instructions to say that a particular activity or thing is forbidden.

The captain turned out the 'no smoking' signs.

No talking after lights out.

...a notice saying 'No Dogs'.

13. countable noun

A no is a person who has answered 'no' to a question or who has voted against something. No is also used to refer to their answer or vote.

According to the latest opinion polls, the noes have 50 percent, the yeses 35 percent.

Synonyms: objector, protester, dissident, dissenter More Synonyms of no

14.

See there is no

15. not to take no for an answer

16. no doubt

17. no less

18. no less than

19. no longer

20. in no way

21. there's no way

22. no way

More Synonyms of no

English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘this car’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more

English Easy Learning GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more, they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more

English Easy Learning GrammarQuantifiersQuantifiers are used to indicate the amount or quantity of something referred to by a noun. They are different from numbers because they indicate an approximate ... Read more

No.

Word forms: plural Nos

No. is a written abbreviation for number.

That year he was named the nation's No. 1 college football star.

Columbia Law Review, vol. no. 698 p1317.

Video: pronunciation of
no

no in British English 1

(nəʊ )

sentence substitute

used to express denial, disagreement, refusal, disapproval, disbelief, or acknowledgment of negative statements

used with question intonation to query a previous negative statement, as in disbelief

The boss isn't dead yet. No?

nounWord forms: plural noes or nos

an answer or vote of no

4. (often plural)

a person who votes in the negative

5. See the noes have it

6. See not take no for an answer

Compare yes, aye2

Word origin

Old English nā, from ne not, no + ā ever; see ay1

no in British English 2

(nəʊ )

determiner

not any, not a, or not one

there's no money left

no card in the file

not by a long way; not at all

she's no youngster

3. (followed by comparative adjectives and adverbs)

not

no fewer than forty men

no more quickly than before

4. See no go

Word origin

Old English nā, changed from nān none1

no in British English 3

the internet domain name for

Norway

No in British English 1

or Noh (nəʊ )

nounWord forms: plural No or Noh

the stylized classic drama of Japan, developed in the 15th century or earlier, using music, dancing, chanting, elaborate costumes, and themes from religious stories or myths

Word origin

from Japanese nō talent, from Chinese neng

No in British English 2

(nəʊ )

noun

See Lake No

No in British English 3

the chemical symbol for

nobelium

No. in British English

abbreviation for

north(ern)

2. Also: noWord forms: plural Nos or nos

number

Word origin

from French numéro

no' in British English

(no, nəʊ )

adverb

Scottish

not

not in British English

(nɒt )

adverb

used to negate the sentence, phrase, or word that it modifies

I will not stand for it

(in combination)

they cannot go

2. See not that

sentence substitute

used to indicate denial, negation, or refusal

certainly not

n.o. in British English

cricket

abbreviation for

not out

No in American English

Chemistry

nobelium

no in American English 1

(noʊ )

adverb

not

whether or no

not in any degree; not at all

no worse

nay; not so

the opposite of yes

interjection

it is not so; nay

the opposite of yes

it cannot be so

used to express surprise, disbelief, dismay, etc.

emphatically not

used to give force to a following negative statement or to introduce a fuller or more specific statement

adjective

not any; not a; not one

no errors

nounWord forms: plural noes or nos

an utterance of no; refusal or denial

a negative vote, or a person voting in the negative; nay

Word origin

ME < OE na < ne a, lit., not ever < IE base *ne, nē, negative particle > Sans ná, Gr ne-, L ne-, Goth & OHG ni, OIr no

no in American English 2

(noʊ )

nounWord forms: plural no

[also N-]

Noh

no in American English 3

north

northern

number

Word origin

(sense 3) L numero

No in American English

the chemical symbol for

nobelium

no. in American English

abbreviation

north

northern

number

Also: No

Examples of 'no' in a sentence
no

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

I've no idea of whether it's going to last a minute or half an hour.

Word lists with
no

internet, lake

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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