Nowhere

/ˈnoʊ.wɛr/

adverbBeginner📊CommonLocation
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Not in or to any place; in no place.

/ˈnoʊ.wɛr/

adverbneutralBeginner
Location

In or to no place.

I looked everywhere for my keys, but they were nowhere to be found.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're looking for your favorite toy, but it's *nowhere* to be found! It's not under the bed, behind the couch, or anywhere! It's simply missing.

👶 For kids: When something is nowhere, it means you can't find it anywhere!

More Examples

2

The lost dog wandered, going nowhere in particular.

3

She felt as though she was going nowhere in her career.

How It's Used

General

"He looked everywhere, but found the key nowhere."

Literary

"The ship sailed, bound for nowhere, a ghost upon the sea."

2

A place that does not exist or that is unimportant.

/ˈnoʊ.wɛr/

nounnegativemedium
Location, Abstract

A place that does not exist; a state of insignificance.

After the company's bankruptcy, their shares were worth nowhere.

💡 Simply: Sometimes, when you're working hard and nothing seems to be happening, you might feel like you're going to *nowhere*. It's like you're not making progress.

👶 For kids: Nowhere can also mean a place that doesn't matter or doesn't exist.

More Examples

2

He felt like his dreams were leading him to nowhere.

3

The investigation led them to nowhere; there were no clues.

How It's Used

Figurative

"His reputation was reduced to nowhere after the scandal."

Literary

"He felt like he was from nowhere, heading to nowhere."

Tip:Think of a place that is not on the map.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Antonyms

From Middle English *nowhere*, from *no* 'not' + *where* 'place'.

The word 'nowhere' has been in use since the Middle Ages, reflecting the concept of negation of place.

Memory tip

Think of a place where nothing is.

Word Origin

LanguageMiddle English
Original meaning

"no + where (not + place)"

Base: where
go nowherelead nowherefrom nowhereget nowhere

Common misspellings

nowhear

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written