no

SayNOH/noʊ//nəʊ/

Noun pluralnoes, nos

17 meanings of no

1
not anydeterminer
Not any, not even one.
There is no milk left in the fridge.
No students were late today.
UsagePut no before a noun or words describing it: no milk, no fresh milk.
Similarzero
Oppositesome, any, many, several
2
particle
Used to give a negative answer, or to disagree, refuse or tell someone not to do something.
No, you are wrong, the shop is closed on Sundays.
David, no! Put that down.
Oppositeyes
3
adverb
Not at all. Used before different, and before more, less, and other comparing words.
This is no different from last time.
The new phone is no better than the old one.
UsageOften followed by than or from: no better than, no different from.
Note
4
determiner
Used to say that something is not allowed or not possible.
The sign said no parking.
There is no stopping her once she starts.
UsageSigns say No smoking; there's no stopping her means nobody can stop her.
5
determiner
Not a real or proper one.
My mother is no fool.
Working seven days a week is no life.
UsageShe's no fool means she is clever.
Note
6
nouncountable
An answer that says no, or a vote against something.
I asked for a day off and got a no.
When the kids asked for a puppy, the answer was a big no.
UsageOften used in won't take no for an answer. The plural is noes or nos.
Similarrefusal, rejection
Oppositeyes
Note
7
USNUM-bur/ˈnʌmbɚ/UKNUM-buh/ˈnʌmbə/
numbernoun
Alternative form of No., short for number.
Look for no 3 on the shelf.
The ship was no 5 in the line.
Note

Less common meanings

8
withoutpreposition
Without something, as when you order food.
I'll take a coffee, no sugar.
She likes her toast with jam, no butter.
UsageSay coffee, no sugar.
Similarwithout, minus
Oppositewith
9
almost zerodeterminer
Hardly any, or almost none.
We will be done in no time.
Fifty dollars for that is no money at all.
UsageSay in no time for very quickly.
Oppositesome
Note
10
not (with good)adverbcolloquial
Not. Used in speech before a few words like good and fair.
This pen is no good, it keeps skipping.
That's no fair, you started first!
UsageSay no good when something does not work well. Say no fair! when something is unfair.
Similarnot
11
say nayverbcolloquialtransitive
To say no, or to turn something down.
The boss noed my request for a day off.
Don't just no my idea before you hear all of it.
Similarreject, veto, nix, decline, refuse
Oppositeapprove, accept
Note
12
paired with yeahparticlecolloquial
Used in speech with yes or another agreeing word to show you agree.
No, totally, you are right.
No, yeah, that is exactly what happened.
UsageNo, yeah means yes. Yeah, no often means no.
Note
13
adverbcolloquialhumorous
Not, used as a joke to sound like a caveman.
Ug no like vegetables, he grunted, pushing the plate away.
Me no want bath, the toddler announced in his best caveman voice.
14
adverbdialectalScotland
In Scotland, not.
I'm no sure he heard you.
Are you coming to the dance or no?
UsageYou may hear I'm no sure for I'm not sure.
Similarnot
Note
15
interjectioncolloquial
Said as a quick question after something you say, to ask the other person to agree or say it is true.
You're coming to the party on Friday, no?
It's a beautiful day, no?
UsageKeep no? the same with different verbs: It's late, no? They left, no?
Similarright
16
interjection
Said when something bad happens or you hear bad news, to show you are upset.
Oh no, I left my keys inside the car!
No! The cake just fell on the floor!
UsagePeople often say oh no when something goes wrong.
Note
17
interjection
Said when you hear something surprising and can hardly believe it.
No! You won the contest? That's amazing!
No, really? They're moving to Alaska?
Similarreally

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 4–5, 9, 15–17

This 'no' comes from Old English nān, meaning 'none' or 'not any'. It was a shortened form of 'none' used before consonants.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

This no derives from Old English nān, meaning 'none' or 'not any'. en.wiktionary.org
No developed as a shortened form of none used before consonants. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2–3, 6, 8, 10–14

This 'no' comes from Old English nā, meaning 'no' or 'never'. It was made from ne ('not') plus a word meaning 'ever'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

This 'no' comes from Old English nā, meaning 'no'. en.wiktionary.org
Old English nā also means 'never'. en.wiktionary.org
Old English nā can be analysed as ne 'not' plus ā 'ever'. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 7

This 'no' is a variant of 'No.', an old short way of writing the Latin word numerō, meaning 'in number'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

This 'no' is a variant of No. en.wiktionary.org
No. is an old abbreviation of Latin numerō, meaning 'in number'. en.wiktionary.org