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

Though Splash Mountain aimed to skirt any controversy associated with “Song of the South,” a work long decried as racist for its idyllic view of slavery and the Reconstruction era, it could never divorce itself from the film.

From Los Angeles Times

In September, Insomnia Gaming Festival, the UK's biggest gaming expo, was due to take place in Birmingham, but following a number of lay-offs at its organiser, Player1 Events, tickets never went on sale.

From BBC

Nikita Hand says she never had sex with Mr Lawrence.

From BBC

Maiava, at the time, had never been so bold as to envision a similar path for himself.

From Los Angeles Times

Playing football had always been a foregone conclusion, but he’d never really considered playing quarterback.

From Los Angeles Times