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

The statement added: "Food safety is something we will never compromise on, and we remain committed to doing the right thing."

From BBC

“I never call me a hands-off owner,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s just a new era, stuff you never dreamed you’d be sitting here doing an interview about, but this is where we are.”

From Los Angeles Times

Americans would never change their habits of consumption, he asserted, but new immigrants would only consume more, rising to this country’s standard of living and expanding the net environmental burden on the world.

From Salon

"The report was never published widely, conscious of the dangers of a defamation suit," Coltart said.

From BBC