nothing
Noun pluralnothings
Pluralnothings
- 1Not a single thing, not anything at all.
Like an empty box with not one thing inside.
There was nothing inside the empty box.
She said nothing when I asked her where she had been.
UsageSay nothing new, and I saw nothing or I didn't see anything.
Oppositeeverything, something
- 2A thing that is so small or unimportant that it hardly matters.
Like a tiny crumb you would not even notice.
Don't worry about the broken cup. It's nothing.
My grandmother keeps a drawer full of little nothings she can't throw away.
UsageSay it's nothing when someone thanks you or worries.
Similartrifle, triviality, bagatelle
Note
- 3Said to take back what you just started to say, meaning it does not matter.
Like waving your hand to brush an idea away.
"What were you saying?" "Oh, nothing. Forget it."
"I was going to ask if... nothing, forget it."
- 4Not important or worth much, of poor quality, or showing little effort, like a nothing film.
Like a speck of dust that no one cares about.
It was just a nothing argument that we forgot by morning.
It was a nothing cut on my knee, so I didn't need a bandage.
UsagePut it before a noun: a nothing job, a nothing remark. It sounds dismissive.
Similartrivial, worthless, insignificant, forgettable, unimportant
Oppositeimportant, significant
Note
- 5Not even a little, or not in any way.
The answer was an impatient one—but, nothing daunted, he continued.
1855, The Ladies' RepositoryHere, nothing means not at all, so he was not at all discouraged.The Motion from London to Syria is as much as nothing; and nothing altereth the relation which is between them.
1662, Thomas Salusbury, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two World SystemsHere, nothing means in no way, so it does not change the relation at all.Note
Less common meanings
- 6A total absence of everything: no space, light, matter, or anything else.
Like a blank page before anyone has drawn on it.
Before the universe began, there was nothing.
Empty space is not really nothing, because space itself is still there.
- 7A person who is seen as having no importance at all.
Like an empty chair that no one ever looks at.
They treated him like a nothing, ignoring everything he said.
She refused to be a nothing in her own family.
UsageSay someone was treated like a nothing.
Similarnobody, nonentity, cipher, zero
Oppositesomebody
- 8A small, sweet thing that someone says, often to a person they love.
Like a soft, kind word that means little but feels nice.
On their first date, he kept whispering sweet nothings to her.
Every sweet nothing he said made her smile.
UsageSay someone whispers sweet nothings.
Similarendearment
Note
- 9Said just after repeating a word someone used, to say strongly that what they said is wrong.
"I'm too tired to clean up." "Tired nothing! You slept until noon."
"Let's wait and see." "Wait nothing, we have to leave now!"
- 10
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Old English words meaning "not any thing." It is made from "no" plus "thing."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The word comes from Old English words meaning “not any thing.” en.wiktionary.org
- The word is formed from “no” plus “thing.” en.wiktionary.org