no

¹

[ noh ]

adverb

1. (a negative used to express dissent, denial, or refusal, as in response to a question or request):

   “Have you done the dishes yet?” “No, not yet.”

2. (used to emphasize or introduce a negative statement):

   Not a single person came to the party, no, not a one.

3. not in any degree or manner; not at all (used with a comparative):

   He is no better.

interjection

1. (used as an expression of disapproval, shock, disbelief, dismay, etc.):

   Oh no, my pancakes are burning!

   “He moved away after he graduated.” “No! I was sure he'd be the one who stuck around.”

adjective

1. not a (used before a noun or a noun and its modifiers to convey the opposite meaning):

   She's no beginner on the ski slopes.

   His recovery was no small miracle.

noun

, plural noes, nos.

1. an utterance of the word “no.”
2. a denial or refusal:

   He responded with a definite no.

3. a negative vote or voter:

   The noes have it.

verb (used with object)

1. to reject, refuse approval, or express disapproval of:

   I would have noed this plan for its lack of forethought if you'd told me about it.

verb (used without object)

1. to express disapproval.

no

²

[ noh ]

adjective

1. not any:

   no money.

2. not at all; far from being:

   He is no genius.

3. very little; negligible:

   We got her to the hospital in no time.

No

³

[ noh ]

noun

1. Lake, a lake in the Sudd region of S central Sudan, formed by the floodwaters of the White Nile. About 40 sq. mi. (100 sq. km).

No

⁴

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. nobelium.

Nō

⁵

or No, Noh

[ noh ]

noun

1. classic drama of Japan, developed chiefly in the 14th century, employing verse, prose, choral song, and dance in highly conventionalized formal and thematic patterns derived from religious sources and folk myths.

no.

⁶

or No.

abbreviation for

1. north.
2. northern.
3. number.

N/O

⁷

abbreviation for

, Banking.

1. registered.

No

¹

the chemical symbol for

1. nobelium

No

²

/ nəʊ /

noun

1. 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

n.o.

³

abbreviation for

1. not out

No.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. north(ern)
2. Alsono Nosnos number

no'

⁵

/ no; nəʊ /

adverb

1. not

no

⁶

/ nəʊ /

determiner

1. not any, not a, or not one

   there's no money left

   no card in the file

2. 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. no go
   See go 1

No

⁷

/ nəʊ /

noun

1. Lake No
   a lake in South Sudan, where the Bahr el Jebel (White Nile) is joined by the Bahr el Ghazal. Area: about 103 sq km (40 sq miles)

no

⁸

/ nəʊ /

sentence substitute

1. used to express denial, disagreement, refusal, disapproval, disbelief, or acknowledgment of negative statements
2. used with question intonation to query a previous negative statement, as in disbelief

   Alfred isn't dead yet. No?

noun

1. an answer or vote of no
2. often plural a person who votes in the negative
3. the noes have it
   there is a majority of votes in the negative
4. not take no for an answer
   to continue in a course of action despite refusals

no

⁹

the internet domain name for

1. Norway

Word History and Origins

Origin of no¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English no, na, Old English nā, from n(e) “not” + ā ay ¹

Origin of no²

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; variant of none ¹

Origin of no³

1870–75; < Japanese, earlier noũ < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese néng ability

Word History and Origins

Origin of no¹

from Japanese nō talent, from Chinese neng

Origin of no²

from French numéro

Origin of no³

Old English nā, changed from nān none ¹

Origin of no⁴

Old English nā, from ne not, no + ā ever; see ay ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. no can do, Informal. it can't be done.

More idioms and phrases containing no

• all talk (and no action)
• all work and no play
• by no means
• close but no cigar
• come to an end (to no good)
• cut no ice
• do any (no) good
• feel no pain
• hell has no fury
• hold no brief for
• in no case
• in no time
• in no uncertain terms
• leave no stone unturned
• less than (no time)
• long time no see
• lose (no) time
• make no bones about
• make no difference
• make no mistake
• money is no object
• none of one's (have no) business
• point of no return
• pull no punches
• rolling stone gathers no moss
• shadow of a doubt, no
• take no for an answer
• there's no telling
• to little (no) purpose
• to no avail
• under any (no) circumstances
• up to no good
• yes and no

Example Sentences

Or has the see and hear and speak-no-evil stance of the Republican House persuaded him that he is in the clear?

From The Daily Beast

These days, plenty of women are turning to online sites for no-frills male companionship.

From The Daily Beast

Riffing off the slogan “Now Everyone Can Fly,” the carrier offered no-frills flights that were both cheap and plentiful.

From The Daily Beast

And why would its ostensible spokesperson refuse to answer yes/no questions about them?

From The Daily Beast

Because Wright was a no-show in criminal court to face the loud music and pot bust he already had an outstanding warrant.

From The Daily Beast

My No. 4239 addressed to Maxwell and repeated to you was sent before receiving your telegram under reply.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a new breed, that parson, a genuwine no-two-alike, come-one-in-a-box kind.

From Project Gutenberg

A pupil had loaned money to a horse-dealer who lived at No. 715 of a certain street.

From Project Gutenberg

Papa, can't I go to the zoologerical rooms to see the camomile fight the rhy-no-sir-ee-hoss?

From Project Gutenberg

On her hand was one large pustulous sore, which resembled that delinated in Plate No. 1.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• negative

What Is The Plural Of No?

Plural word for no

The plural form of no can be either nos or noes. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -o are also formed this way, as in mango/mangos/mangoes and mosquito/mosquitos/mosquitoes. 

In some instances, particularly in advertising and other public communications, the plural form of no is written with an apostrophe, as in no’s. This is not considered standard, but it may be easier to understand in some contexts, because nos. (with a period at the end) is also used as an abbreviation for numbers and because many people are unfamiliar with the plural form of no. 

The word no is only pluralized when it is used as a noun rather than in its more common use as an adverb. The word no as a noun means “an answer or vote of no” or “a person who votes in the negative,” as in The noes outnumbered the yeses.