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not

SayNOT/nɑt//nɒt/

7 meanings of not

Practice

  1. 1
    adverb
    Used to make a verb, word, or phrase negative, often after an auxiliary verb or shortened to n't.

    We could not find the key.

    It is important that she not miss the train.

    UsagePut not after be or a helping verb: is not, can't. In most other statements add do: I don't like it (not incorrect: I not like it).

  2. 2
    contrastconjunction
    And not, setting the wrong alternative against the right one ('he painted the car blue and black, not solid purple').

    She ordered tea, not coffee.

    The meeting is on Tuesday, not Thursday.

  3. 3
    mild oppositeadverb
    Used in litotes, or understatement, to convey the opposite or near opposite of what is said.

    The hotel was not the cleanest I have stayed in.

    She was not unhappy with the result.

    UsageNot exactly, not the best, not unhappy say less than is meant: not exactly a genius is criticism.

    Note

    Understatement does the work here. The speaker says less and leaves the listener to supply the strength, so not my favorite movie signals real dislike. A double negative like not unhappy belongs here too: it often means fairly pleased, but context can leave it merely neutral.

    Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

  4. 4
    replacing a sentenceadverb
    Used in place of a whole negative clause after verbs such as hope, think, and be afraid, and after the conjunctions if and or.

    "Will they finish the bridge on time?" "I'm afraid not."

    Bring a jacket if you have one; if not, we can lend you one.

    UsageI hope not, I'm afraid not; with think, I don't think so is usual, and I think not sounds firm.

    Oppositeso

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    fed upadverb
    Used before a noun phrase or clause as an exclamation of dismay, annoyance, disbelief, or amusement.

    Not the blue dress again!

    Not my coffee! The cat just knocked the whole mug over.

    UsageOften with again: not that again, not the dentist again.

  2. 6
    sarcasminterjectionslang
    Slang interjection tacked on after a pause to reveal that the previous statement was sarcastic ('I really like watching Barney with my little brother… not!').

    This is the best party ever… not!

    He's a great driver… not!

    Note

    A one-word reversal that waits until the sentence has finished: the speaker lets the claim stand, pauses, then cancels it. Zane Grey already puts it in a ballplayer's taunt in 1911, so the trick is not a recent one. Its relatives are I don't think, psych, and the obsolete British bender.

    Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • Zane Grey used the sarcastic interjection in 1911, so it is not recent. en.wiktionary.org
    • The use occurs in a ballplayer's taunt in Grey's novel. gutenberg.org
    • Related expressions include I don't think, psych, and obsolete British bender. en.wiktionary.org
  3. 7
    the word itselfnouncountable
    An instance of the word 'not' used as a noun, standing for a negation or denial; plural 'nots'.

    The rulebook is a long list of nots.

    Every not in the contract was underlined.

    Similarnegation, negative

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English "not," a variant of "noght," from Old English "nāht," a short form of "nāwiht" meaning "nothing" (literally "not anything"). It comes from "ne" (not) plus "āwiht" (anything), and is related to Dutch "niet" and German "nicht."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts