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Definition of never

never

/ˈnɛv.ɚ/
nev · er
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never Lexical Profile

never Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

At no time in the past or future; on no occasion; not ever.

Example

"She has never visited the Grand Canyon despite living in Arizona for a decade."

2

Not at all; certainly not (used to express emphatic denial, refusal, or disbelief).

Example

"He realized that such a hasty plan would never succeed without proper funding."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for never
Antonyms
View all antonyms for never

Word Nuance & Usage

When 'never' is placed at the beginning of a clause for rhetorical emphasis, it triggers subject-auxiliary inversion (e.g., 'Never have I seen such a spectacle'). In standard English, avoid pairing 'never' with other negative words like 'nothing' or 'no one' in the same clause to prevent a double negative.

• Rhymes for never

• Nearby Words

neva
nevada
nevada falls
never
nevermind
nevermore
nevertheless

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'næfre', a compound of the negative particle 'ne' (not) and 'æfre' (ever).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Never. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/never
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