no

Syllabification: (no)

Pronunciation: /nō/

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Definition of no

determiner

1not any:there is no excuse no two plants are alike

2used to indicate that something is quite the opposite of what is being specified:it was no easy task persuading her Toby is no fool

3hardly any:you’ll be back in no time

4used in notices or slogans forbidding or rejecting something specified:“No Smoking” signs no nukes

exclamation

used to give a negative response:“Is anything wrong?” “No.”
expressing disagreement or contradiction:“This is boring.” “No, it’s not!”
expressing agreement with or affirmation of a negative statement:they would never cause a fuss, oh no
expressing shock or disappointment at something one has heard or discovered:oh no, look at this!

adverb

[with comparative]

not at all; to no extent:they were no more able to perform the task than I was

noun (plural noes)

a negative answer or decision, as in voting:he was unable to change his automatic yes to a no

Phrases

no can do: informal I am unable to do it.
the noes have it: the negative votes are in the majority.
no less: see less.
no longer: not now as formerly:they no longer live here
no more: see more.
no place: nowhere.
no sooner —— than: see soon.
not take no for an answer: persist in spite of refusals.
no two ways about it: used to convey that there can be no doubt about something.
no way: informal under no circumstances; not at all:You think she’s alone? No way
or no: or not:she’d have ridden there, winter or no
—— or no ——: regardless of the specified thing:recession or no recession there is always going to be a shortage of good people

Origin:

Old English nō, nā (adverb), from ne 'not' + ō, ā 'ever' The determiner arose in Middle English (originally before words beginning with any consonant except h-), reduced from non, from Old English nān (see none¹)

no in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of no in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

no

determiner

exclamation

adverb

noun (plural noes)

Phrases

no can do

the noes have it

no less

no longer

no more

no place

no sooner —— than

not take no for an answer

no two ways about it

no way

or no

—— or no ——

Origin:

no in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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