Definition and meaning of English word "never"
never
/ˈnɛvər/
Meaning
VerbAt no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.
How to use
The adverb 'never' is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to convey a sense of absolute negation. For example, 'I've never been to Paris' or 'She'll never forgive him.' However, learners of English often make the mistake of using 'never' in conditional clauses, such as 'If I never see her again...' which is grammatically incorrect. Instead, the correct construction would be 'If I never see her again, I'll be heartbroken.'
🇬🇧 English
never
Example
I'll never forget this day.
She'll never give up.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- never say never— an expression meaning 'don't say you'll never do something'
- never give up— an expression meaning 'don't give up, keep trying'
- never mind— an expression meaning 'it doesn't matter'
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #277 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "never" mean?▼
The English word "never" means "never" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "never"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "never" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "never"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Not at any time or in any circumstances." (which translates as "never").
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