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

He imagined a future in which “resources and livable conditions are scarce. Scarcity is the rule, and requires a degree of self-interest. Population problems are beyond solution by migration. No habitable unclaimed lands remain.”

From Salon

No, that’s not a headline from The Onion, though it’s bound to be fuel for ongoing skits on “Saturday Night Live.”

From Salon

"Is he the most powerful? No. Not by a long way," he told BBC Sport.

From BBC

No headliners have been announced yet, but demand is expected to be higher than ever because the festival will take a year off in 2026.

From BBC

No specific qualifications are needed to become a prison officer in England and Wales.

From BBC

Related Words

• negative