Never Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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never

[ˈnɛvər ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adverb

in negative sentences

not at any time; not on any occasion

Synonyms

at no time, not ever.

Examples of usage

  • I never drink coffee in the evening.
  • He never forgets to call his mother on Sundays.
Context #2 | Adverb

referring to a past event

not at any time in the past; not in the past and not now

Synonyms

never before, not once.

Examples of usage

  • She has never been to France.
  • I have never seen such a beautiful sunset before.
Context #3 | Noun

informal

a person who does not succeed in a particular activity

Synonyms

failure, loser.

Examples of usage

  • He was a never in the world of business.
  • She's a never when it comes to cooking.

Translations

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Origin of 'never'

The word 'never' originated from Middle English 'never', which is a contraction of 'ne' (not) and 'ever'. It has been used in English since the 12th century. The negative adverb 'never' has been a common part of the English language, used to indicate the absence of time or occurrence. Over the years, it has become a fundamental word in expressing negation and denial in various contexts.


Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #147, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.