not
not
Not (adv) means a word used to make a statement, verb, or phrase negative. Example: “I am not going to the party tonight.”
adv
1
A word used to make a statement, verb, or phrase negative.
"I am not going to the party tonight."
"She did not finish her homework."
"He did not know where to find the spare key."
2
Used after a statement, often ironically, to reverse its apparent meaning as a joke.
"Sure, I'd love to clean the whole garage on my day off. Not!"
"Great plan. Not."
"Oh, I just love waiting in the rain for the bus. Not!"
How to use not
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe basic word for turning a statement into its opposite — the core of English negation.
Common pairings
not only... but also
not at all
why not
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Word forms
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I am _____ going to the party tonight.
Etymology
From Middle English not/nat, a shortened form of Old English nāwiht ("nothing"), literally "not anything."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for not
See all rhymes for not →Frequently asked questions
What does “not” mean?
The word “not” means a word used to make a statement, verb, or phrase negative. In plain terms, the basic word for turning a statement into its opposite — the core of English negation.
How do you pronounce “not”?
“Not” is pronounced not (/nɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “not” in a sentence?
Here is “not” used in a sentence: “I am not going to the party tonight.”
What part of speech is “not”?
“Not” is an adverb.
Where does the word “not” come from?
The word “not” comes from Old English. From Middle English not/nat, a shortened form of Old English nāwiht ("nothing"), literally "not anything.".
Is “not” a common word?
“Not” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “not” have?
“Not” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a word used to make a statement, verb, or phrase negative.
What is the difference between "not" and "no"?
"Not" makes verbs and phrases negative and usually attaches to a verb ("She is not here," "do not touch"), while "no" negates nouns directly ("no money," "no problem") or answers a question. Modern English says "I have no time" or "I do not have time," but not "I have not time."
How does "not" form contractions?
"Not" shortens to "n't" and attaches to auxiliary and modal verbs: "isn't," "don't," "can't," "shouldn't." The contraction "won't" is irregular, standing for "will not," and "cannot" is normally written as a single word.
Are double negatives like "don't know nothing" wrong?
In standard English, two negatives in one clause are avoided because they logically cancel each other out; the standard form is "I don't know anything." Double negatives are common in many dialects and in casual speech for emphasis, but they are considered nonstandard in formal writing.
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