abbreviation

DNF

dee-en-EFF

DNF (abbreviation) means Did not finish: a result recorded for a competitor who starts a race or event but fails to complete it. Example: “Two cars took a DNF on the opening lap.”

abbreviation

Did not finish: a result recorded for a competitor who starts a race or event but fails to complete it.

"Two cars took a DNF on the opening lap."

"She was on for a personal best until a knee injury forced a DNF at mile twenty."

informal Did not finish: used by readers to mark a book they abandoned partway through.

"I gave it a hundred pages and then DNF'd it."

"That novel is going straight on my DNF shelf."

verb

informal To drop out of a race or event before completing it.

"He DNF'd the marathon after cramping badly in the heat."

How to Use DNF

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIt means someone started something and quit before the end.

When to use it

Standard in official race results, where it appears beside a competitor's name instead of a time. The reading sense is casual and belongs to book communities online.

Memory tip

A DNF is not the same as not turning up: you have to start in order to record one.

Easily confused with

DNF → DNS → DSQ

Common pairings

record a DNF DNF the race DNF rate DNF list

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “DNF” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Two cars took a _____ on the opening lap.

Antonyms

finisher classified finish

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between DNF and DNS?

DNF means did not finish: the competitor started but stopped before the end. DNS means did not start: they were entered but never crossed the start line.

Is a DNF better or worse than last place?

In results terms a DNF sits below every classified finisher, because finishing at all earns a position and often points. Many athletes still take a DNF deliberately to avoid injury when the day is clearly lost.

Does DNF count as a race result?

It is recorded, but it is not a placing. Your name appears in the results with DNF instead of a time, and most rankings and points systems award nothing for it.

Featured In

Vocabulary lists that include DNF:

Words That End With F