Nowhere: meaning, definitions and examples

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nowhere

[ ˈnoʊˌwɛr ]

Adverb / Noun

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

in a place that is not known or specified

Nowhere means in or to no place.

Synonyms

in no place, not anywhere, not in any place.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nowhere	It is a duplicate of the first 'nowhere,' implying it can be used interchangeably and carries the same meaning. There is absolutely nowhere to park in this city. The child was yelling for help, but there was nowhere safe to go.
not anywhere	Often used in the context of expressing absence or nonexistence, similar to 'nowhere,' but it flows better in negative sentences. The suspect is not anywhere in this building. He wasn't seen at the event, not anywhere.
in no place	A more formal or literary way to express that something doesn't exist in any location. It can sound more precise but also more rigid. The treasure is hidden in no place that can be easily discovered. Her name appeared in no place in the entire document.
not in any place	A clear, slightly formal way to state that something is absent in all possible locations. The solution to the problem was not in any place we could think of. He could not find the book, not in any place he searched.

Examples of usage

I searched everywhere and found him nowhere.
She was nowhere to be seen.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

a place that is remote, secluded, or unknown

Nowhere can also refer to a remote or unknown place.

Synonyms

remote place, secluded area, unknown location.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nowhere	This term can be used to stress an absence of a specific place or direction. After driving for hours, they ended up nowhere The search led us nowhere
remote place	This phrase is suitable for describing a location that is far away from populated areas, often difficult to access. The cabin is in a remote place, far from the city They decided to camp in a remote place to avoid the crowds
secluded area	This phrase is used for places that are private and isolated, often with a sense of providing peace and quiet. We found a secluded area by the lake for our picnic The secluded area was perfect for meditation and relaxation
unknown location	This term describes a place that is not known or identified, often used in mysteries or situations lacking information. The treasure was hidden in an unknown location The signal is coming from an unknown location

Examples of usage

They built their house in the middle of nowhere.
We were in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception.

Translations

Translations of the word "nowhere" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nenhum lugar

🇮🇳 कहीं नहीं

🇩🇪 nirgendwo

🇮🇩 tidak ada tempat

🇺🇦 ніде

🇵🇱 nigdzie

🇯🇵 どこにも

🇫🇷 nulle part

🇪🇸 en ninguna parte

🇹🇷 hiçbir yerde

🇰🇷 아무데도

🇸🇦 لا مكان

🇨🇿 nikde

🇸🇰 nikde

🇨🇳 无处

🇸🇮 nikjer

🇮🇸 hvergi

🇰🇿 еш жерде

🇬🇪 არსად

🇦🇿 heç yerdə

🇲🇽 en ninguna parte

Etymology

The word 'nowhere' originated from the Middle English phrase 'no where', which meant 'not in or at any place'. Over time, the two words merged to form 'nowhere' in the 13th century. The concept of nowhere has been a philosophical and literary theme, exploring the idea of non-existence or emptiness. The expression 'nowhere land' or 'nowhere place' has been used to describe a remote, desolate area. The word continues to be used in contemporary language to indicate a lack of a specific location or to emphasize a sense of isolation or obscurity.

See also: anywhere, everywhere, somewhere, where, whereas, wherever.