no

¹

[noh]

adverb

1. (a negative used to express dissent, denial, or refusal, as in response to a question or request).

   “Have you done the dishes yet?” “No, not yet.”

2. (used to emphasize or introduce a negative statement).

   Not a single person came to the party, no, not a one.

3. not in any degree or manner; not at all (used with a comparative).

   He is no better.

interjection

1. (used as an expression of disapproval, shock, disbelief, dismay, etc.).

   Oh no, my pancakes are burning!

   “He moved away after he graduated.” “No! I was sure he'd be the one who stuck around.”

adjective

1. not a (used before a noun or a noun and its modifiers to convey the opposite meaning).

   She's no beginner on the ski slopes.

   His recovery was no small miracle.

noun

plural

noes, nos 

1. an utterance of the word “no.”

2. a denial or refusal.

   He responded with a definite no.

3. a negative vote or voter.

   The noes have it.

verb (used with object)

1. to reject, refuse approval, or express disapproval of.

   I would have noed this plan for its lack of forethought if you'd told me about it.

verb (used without object)

1. to express disapproval.

no

²

[noh]

adjective

1. not any.

   no money.

2. not at all; far from being.

   He is no genius.

3. very little; negligible.

   We got her to the hospital in no time.

No

³

[noh]

noun

1. Lake, a lake in the Sudd region of S central Sudan, formed by the floodwaters of the White Nile. About 40 sq. mi. (100 sq. km).

No

⁴

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. nobelium.

Nō

⁵

Or No,

[noh]

noun

1. classic drama of Japan, developed chiefly in the 14th century, employing verse, prose, choral song, and dance in highly conventionalized formal and thematic patterns derived from religious sources and folk myths.

no.

⁶

Or No.

abbreviation

1. north.

2. northern.

3. number.

N/O

⁷

abbreviation

Banking.

1. registered.

no

¹

/ nəʊ /

1. used to express denial, disagreement, refusal, disapproval, disbelief, or acknowledgment of negative statements

2. used with question intonation to query a previous negative statement, as in disbelief

   Alfred isn't dead yet. No?

noun

1. an answer or vote of no

2. (often plural) a person who votes in the negative

3. there is a majority of votes in the negative

4. to continue in a course of action despite refusals

no

²

/ nəʊ /

determiner

1. not any, not a, or not one

   there's no money left

   no card in the file

2. not by a long way; not at all

   she's no youngster

3. (followed by comparative adjectives and adverbs) not

   no fewer than forty men

   no more quickly than before

4. See go 1

No.

³

abbreviation

1. north(ern)

2. Also: no. number

No

⁴

/ nəʊ /

noun

1. the stylized classic drama of Japan, developed in the 15th century or earlier, using music, dancing, chanting, elaborate costumes, and themes from religious stories or myths

No

⁵

/ nəʊ /

noun

1. a lake in South Sudan, where the Bahr el Jebel (White Nile) is joined by the Bahr el Ghazal. Area: about 103 sq km (40 sq miles)

No

⁶

symbol

1. nobelium

no

⁷

abbreviation

1. Norway

n.o.

⁸

abbreviation

1. not out

no'

⁹

/ no, nəʊ /

adverb

1. not

Word History and Origins

Origin of no¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English no, na, Old English nā, from n(e) “not” + ā ay ¹

Origin of no²

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; variant of none ¹

Origin of no³

1870–75; < Japanese, earlier noũ < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese néng ability

Word History and Origins

Origin of no¹

Old English nā, from ne not, no + ā ever; see _ay ¹

Origin of no²

Old English nā, changed from nān _none ¹

Origin of no³

from French numéro

Origin of no⁴

from Japanese nō talent, from Chinese neng

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. no can do, it can't be done.

More idioms and phrases containing no

• all talk (and no action)
• all work and no play
• by no means
• close but no cigar
• come to an end (to no good)
• cut no ice
• do any (no) good
• feel no pain
• hell has no fury
• hold no brief for
• in no case
• in no time
• in no uncertain terms
• leave no stone unturned
• less than (no time)
• long time no see
• lose (no) time
• make no bones about
• make no difference
• make no mistake
• money is no object
• none of one's (have no) business
• point of no return
• pull no punches
• rolling stone gathers no moss
• shadow of a doubt, no
• take no for an answer
• there's no telling
• to little (no) purpose
• to no avail
• under any (no) circumstances
• up to no good
• yes and no

Example Sentences

“No community should turn its back on its residents in need — especially while there are people in your community sleeping on the streets.”

From Los Angeles Times

No woman should feel unsafe in our city, and we know this news will cause concern across communities.

From BBC

"No evil propaganda video will weaken us or divert us from our determination to achieve these goals," the statement said.

From BBC

No person, be they an American president or a civilian critic, could make Oliphant put down his pen — though it wasn’t for lack of trying.

From Salon

No, it’s the meeting of the leaders of China, Russia, India and North Korea last weekend.

From Salon

Related Words

• negative 

When To Use

Plural word for no

The plural form of no can be either nos or noes. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -o are also formed this way, as in mango/mangos/mangoes and mosquito/mosquitos/mosquitoes. In some instances, particularly in advertising and other public communications, the plural form of no is written with an apostrophe, as in no's. This is not considered standard, but it may be easier to understand in some contexts, because nos. (with a period at the end) is also used as an abbreviation for numbers and because many people are unfamiliar with the plural form of no. The word no is only pluralized when it is used as a noun rather than in its more common use as an adverb. The word no as a noun means "an answer or vote of no" or "a person who votes in the negative," as in The noes outnumbered the yeses.