Never

/ˈnɛvər/

adverbBeginner🔥Very CommonTime
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

1

Not at any time; not on any occasion.

/ˈnɛvər/

adverbneutralBeginner
Time

At no time; not ever.

I have never seen such a beautiful sunset.

💡 Simply: Imagine your friend asks if you've tried sushi. If you haven't, you'd say you've *never* had it! It means not once, not even a single time.

👶 For kids: When something hasn't happened even once. Like, "I've never seen a unicorn!"

More Examples

2

She will never forgive him for what he did.

3

He had never tasted anything so delicious.

How It's Used

General conversation

"I have never been to Europe."

Formal writing

"The company has never faced such a challenge."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

never say never

Used to encourage someone to believe that anything is possible; to not rule out something in the future.

"She had never considered traveling abroad, but then she thought, 'Never say never!'"

From Middle English *never*, *nēver*, from Old English *nǣfre* (“never”), a compound of *nā* (“no, not”) + *ǣfre* (“ever”).

The word 'never' has been used in English since the Old English period, and it's been used with its current meaning throughout history.

Memory tip

Think of 'ever' as the opposite of 'never'.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"not ever"

never beforenever againnever evernever mindnever the less

Common misspellings

nevrneaverneverr

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written