never

[ nev-er ]

adverb

1. not ever; at no time:

   Such an idea never occurred to me.

2. not at all; absolutely not:

   never mind;

   This will never do.

3. to no extent or degree:

   He was never the wiser for his experience.

never

/ ˈnɛvə /

adverb

1. at no time; not ever
2. certainly not; by no means; in no case

interjection

1. Alsowell I never! surely not!

Usage

In informal speech and writing, never can be used instead of not with the simple past tenses of certain verbs for emphasis ( I never said that; I never realized how clever he was ), but this usage should be avoided in serious writing

Word History and Origins

Origin of never¹

First recorded before 900; from Middle English, from Old English nǣfre, equivalent to ne “not” + ǣfre ever ( def ); neither ( def ), nought ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of never¹

Old English nǣfre, from ne not + æfre ever

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. never mind, don't bother; don't concern yourself.
2. never cease to amaze. never cease to amaze.

More idioms and phrases containing never

• better late than never
• it never rains but it pours
• lightning never strikes twice
• now or never
• watched pot never boils
• wonders will never cease
• you never can tell

Example Sentences

Panorama understands the proposed sensory room was never built.

From BBC

Despite travelling to every corner of the globe to play the sport he adores, he has never permanently left his hometown of Manacor.

From BBC

"I would have liked children. I was never blessed that way, but my last ability to have children was taken away due to cancer."

From BBC

"I'd never taken a penalty with my left foot in a game before, and certainly not in a World Cup final, and certainly not in front of 90,000 people," she said.

From BBC

American great Serena Williams posted on Instagram: "Congratulations on a career that most won't dare to dream of. Your legacy will never die."

From BBC