nothing

1 of 4

pronoun

noth·​ing ˈnə-thiŋ 

1

: not any thing : no thing

leaves nothing to the imagination

2

: no part

3

: one of no interest, value, or consequence

they mean nothing to me

see also next to nothing

nothing

2 of 4

adverb

: not at all : in no degree

nothing

3 of 4

noun

plural nothings

1

a

: something that does not exist

b

: the absence of all magnitude or quantity

also : zero sense 1a

c

: nothingness, nonexistence

2

: someone or something of no or slight value or size

3

: a light, playful, or frivolous remark

—usually plural

… from the time of their sitting down to table, it was a quick succession of busy nothings till the carriage came to the door …

—Jane Austen

He … had the most insinuating way of saying impertinent nothings to his doting female admirers.

—Charles Dickens

see also sweet nothings

nothing

4 of 4

adjective

: of no account : worthless

Phrases

nothing doing

: by no means : definitely no

nothing for it

: no alternative

nothing for it but to start over

nothing like

: not nearly

it's nothing like thorough enough

for nothing

1

: without reason

2

: at no charge

Synonyms

Adverb

• never
• no
• none
• noway
• noways
• nowise

Noun

• cipher
• dwarf
• half-pint
• insect
• insignificancy
• lightweight
• morsel
• nobody
• nonentity
• nullity
• number
• pip-squeak
• pygmy
• pigmy
• shrimp
• snippersnapper
• twerp
• whippersnapper
• zero
• zilch

Examples of nothing in a Sentence

Pronoun

There's nothing in my hands.

She knows nothing of our plans.

You have nothing to worry about.

There's nothing fun to do around here.

You think that's bad? It's nothing compared to what I went through.

Don't get all upset over nothing.

Your opinion means nothing to me.

“Are you hurt?” “Don't worry. It's nothing.”

Adverb

She is nothing like her sister.

It's nothing close to finished.

Noun

It appeared out of nothing.

The UFO hovered for a while, then vanished into nothing.

My children are important to me—I'm nothing without them.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The one whose legs turned nothings into somethings, improvising the Lions’ entire defensive game plan into a pile of ash? —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2024

But nothings more peaceful than tomorrow to a man going through pain today. —Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024

The stereotype of large women in horned helmets warbling silly nothings comes largely from the period when American operagoers had lost the language skills that our great-grandparents had, either as European immigrants or European-admiring, upper-class swells. —Nicholas Gallagher, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024

And just so, these clouds like lines of coke, these fine bird-bone clouds giving structure to the afternoon sky will decompose into faint nothings. —Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 9 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

Middle English, from Old English nān thing, nāthing, from nān no + thing thing — more at none

First Known Use

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nothing

• all-or-nothing
• almost nothing
• apropos of nothing
• betray nothing
• can make nothing of
• come to nothing
• do-nothing
• do nothing for
• double or nothing
• for nothing
• good-for-nothing
• had nothing to recommend him
• have (got) nothing left to prove
• have nothing against
• have nothing in common
• have nothing on (someone)
• here goes nothing
• if nothing else
• in nothing flat
• It's nothing to do with
• know-nothing
• lack/want for nothing
• leave nothing to be desired
• leave nothing to chance
• leave nothing to the imagination
• mean nothing to (someone)
• next to nothing
• nothing but skin and bones
• nothing but trouble
• nothing comes of
• nothing could be farther from the truth
• nothing could be further from someone's mind
• nothing could be further from the truth
• nothing daunted
• nothing doing
• nothing else
• nothing else for it
• nothing for it
• nothing (further) to do with
• nothing if not
• nothing in
• nothing in it (for someone)
• nothing less than
• nothing of the kind
• nothing of the sort
• nothing personal
• nothing short of
• nothing so much as
• nothing succeeds like success
• nothing to
• nothing to it
• nothing to sneeze at
• nothing to sniff at
• nothing to worry about
• nothing to write home about
• nothing ventured, nothing gained
• on a hiding to nothing
• stick at nothing
• stop at nothing
• think nothing of
• think nothing of it
• to say nothing of

Video

Is 'None' Singular or Plural?

Or both? Or neither?

Kids Definition

nothing

1 of 3 pronoun

noth·​ing ˈnəth-iŋ 

1

: not anything

there's nothing in the box

2

: one of no interest, value, or importance

your opinion means nothing to me

nothing

2 of 3 adverb

: not at all : in no way

nothing

3 of 3 noun

1

a

: something that does not exist

b

: absence of quantity : zero

2

: something of little or no worth or importance

nothingness noun