none
nuhn
None (pronoun) means not any; not one of a group. Example: “I looked for biscuits, but there were none left in the tin.”
pronoun
1
Not any; not one of a group.
"I looked for biscuits, but there were none left in the tin."
"None of the students finished the exam early."
"I asked if anyone had questions, but none did."
adverb
1
Not at all, not in the slightest.
"The film was none the worse for being so old."
"She was none the wiser after reading the instructions twice."
"He seemed none too pleased with the result."
How to use none
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot any at all — used to say zero of something exists or applies.
Common mistake
"None" can take a singular or plural verb depending on context ("none of it is left" vs. "none of them are here") — both are accepted in modern usage.
Common pairings
none of us
none whatsoever
none too soon
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Word forms
- Plural
- nones
Fill the gap
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I looked for biscuits, but there were _____ left in the tin.
Etymology
From Old English nan, "not one," combining ne ("not") and one.
Related words
Rhymes for none
See all rhymes for none →Frequently asked questions
What does “none” mean?
The word “none” means not any; not one of a group. In plain terms, not any at all — used to say zero of something exists or applies.
How do you pronounce “none”?
“None” is pronounced nuhn (/nʌn/ in IPA).
How do you use “none” in a sentence?
Here is “none” used in a sentence: “None of the students finished the exam early.”
What is the opposite of “none”?
The opposite of “none” — its antonyms — are some and all.
What part of speech is “none”?
Depending on how it is used, “none” can be a pronoun and an adverb.
Where does the word “none” come from?
The word “none” comes from Old English. From Old English nan, "not one," combining ne ("not") and one.
Is “none” a common word?
“None” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “none” have?
“None” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not any; not one of a group.
Is none singular or plural?
Both are correct. Despite an old belief that "none" always means "not one" and must be singular, standard English has long allowed a plural verb too. Use singular to stress "not a single one" ("none of it is left"); use plural for a group ("none of them were ready").
What is the difference between none and no one?
"None" can refer to people or things and means "not any" — none of the cake, none of the guests. "No one" refers only to people and means "nobody." So you can say "none of the milk" but not "no one of the milk"; for people, either may fit.
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