no

1 of 6

adverb

ˈnō 

1

a

chiefly Scotland : not

b

—used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility

shall we go out to dinner or no

2

: in no respect or degree

—used in comparisons

you're no better than the rest of us

3

: not so

—used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal

no, I'm not going

4

—used with a following adjective to imply a meaning expressed by the opposite positive statement

in no uncertain terms

5

—used as a function word to emphasize a following negative or to introduce a more emphatic, explicit, or comprehensive statement

it's big, no, it's gigantic

6

—used as an interjection to express surprise, doubt, or incredulity

7

—used in combination with a verb to form a compound adjective

no-bake pie

8

: in negation

shook his head no

no

2 of 6

adjective

1

a

: not any

no parking

no disputing the decision

b

: hardly any : very little

finished in no time

2

: not a : quite other than a

he's no expert

3

—used in combination with a noun to form a compound adjective

a no-nonsense realist

no

3 of 6

noun

ˈnō 

plural noes or nos ˈnōz 

1

: an act or instance of refusing or denying by the use of the word no : denial

received a firm no in reply

2

a

: a negative vote or decision

b

noes or nos plural : persons voting in the negative

no

4 of 6

abbreviation

1

north; northern

2

[Latin numero, ablative of numerus] number

No

5 of 6

less common spelling of noh

No

6 of 6

symbol

nobelium

Synonyms

Adverb

• never
• none
• nothing
• noway
• noways
• nowise

Noun

• nay
• negative
• non placet

Examples of no in a Sentence

Adverb

She shook her head no.

this cake is no better than the last one we made

Adjective

She said she had no money.

I wanted no part of the plan.

They showed no concern for my feelings.

people with little or no experience with computers

Noun

There were 110 ayes and only 16 noes.

The noes raised their hands.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Andy, Wendy, and Natalie are content to get by no matter what comes their way, but Nicola feels everything much more intensely. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024

Simply put, this is unacceptable, and everyone, no matter your opinion on this case, should condemn it. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Adjective

With no itchy seams and a blended no-static material, this shirt is designed for running and reduces chafing, retains shape, stretches further than other fabrics, and uses mesh to maximize breathability during cardio heavy training. —Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024

The offensive line needs three new starters and more clarity as to the quality of its backups, with few no-doubter candidates. —Nathan Baird, cleveland, 20 Jan. 2023

Noun

Coraline 15th Anniversary notched a nice no. 5 at the domestic box office with $8.63 million for the three-day weekend on 1,603 screens. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2024

And the yes vote in the new poll, though short of 50%, was well ahead of the no. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old English nā, from ne not + ā always; akin to Old Norse & Old High German ne not, Latin ne-, Greek nē- — more at aye

First Known Use

Adverb

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

Adjective

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing no

• all mouth (and no trousers/action)
• all talk and no action
• almost no
• and no mistake
• at no
• at no charge
• at no cost
• at no time
• bear no relation to
• be no respecter of persons
• by any/no stretch of the imagination
• by no means
• close but no cigar
• come as no surprise
• come to no good
• cut no ice
• dead men tell no tales
• do no such thing
• do no wrong
• do (someone) no service
• feel no pain
• for no apparent purpose
• for no good reason
• give/make no response
• go no further
• go-no-go
• has no filter
• have/hold/want no truck with
• have no faith
• have no idea
• have no intention of
• have no interest in
• have no one to blame but oneself
• have no part in
• have no recollection
• have no use for
• have no wish
• hold no terror(s)
• I have no idea
• in less than no time
• in no condition
• in no (fit) state
• in no hurry
• in no position to
• in no sense
• in no small measure
• in no small part
• in no time
• in no uncertain terms
• in no way
• In no way shape or form
• in no wise
• it is no disgrace
• (it's) no biggie
• it's no use
• know no bounds
• know no bounds/boundaries
• leave no stone unturned
• leave someone (with) no/little choice
• leave (someone) (with) no option
• like no other
• like there's no tomorrow
• long time no see
• lose no time
• make no allowance for
• make no apologies for
• make no attempt
• make no bones
• make no bones about
• Make no bones about it
• make no difference
• make no mention of
• make no mistake
• make no odds
• make no secret of
• make no sense
• makes little/no sense
• mean no offense
• mince no words
• money is no object
• no accident
• no-account
• no amount of
• no bad thing
• no better
• no big whoop
• no-brainer
• no call for
• no can do
• no cause for alarm
• no comparison
• no conception of
• no concern of someone's
• no contest
• no dice
• no disputing
• no doubt
• no doubt about it
• no doubt in someone's mind
• no easy/simple matter
• no easy thing
• no end
• no end in sight
• no exception
• no fair
• no-fault
• no fear
• no fewer than
• no fixed abode
• no flies on
• no-fly zone
• no-frills
• no future
• no gain without pain
• no go
• no-go area
• no good
• no-goodnik
• no great shakes
• no hard feelings
• no harm done
• no help for it
• no-hit
• no-hitter
• no-holds-barred
• no-hoper
• no ifs and buts
• no ifs, ands, or buts
• no inconsiderable
• no joke
• no joking matter
• no kidding
• no-kill
• no lack of
• no laughing matter
• no less
• no less than
• no little
• no-load
• no longer
• no love lost
• no-man's-land
• no match for
• no matter
• no matter how you slice it
• no matter what
• no mean
• no mean feat
• no moon
• no more Mr. Nice Guy
• no-name
• no need
• no news is good news
• no-no
• no-nonsense
• no/not later than
• no/not more than
• no object
• no offense
• no oil painting
• no one
• no ordinary
• no other
• no pain, no gain
• no-par
• no parallel
• no-parking zone
• no-par-value
• no percentage
• no place for
• no problem
• no quarrel with
• no quarter
• no reflection on
• no relation
• no secret
• no-see-um
• no shit
• no shortage of
• no-show
• no side to
• no skin off someone's nose
• no small matter
• no-smoking
• no sooner
• no sooner said than done
• no sooner than
• no stranger to
• no such animal
• no such luck
• no such thing
• no sweat
• no thanks to
• no-till
• no-tillage
• no time to lose
• no trouble
• no-trump
• not take no for an answer
• not under any circumstances/under no circumstances
• no two ways about it
• no way
• no-win
• no wonder
• no worries
• offered no resistance
• offer no apology for
• of no avail
• on no account
• pay no attention to
• pay someone no mind
• play no part in
• point of no return
• post no bills
• say no
• say no more
• serve no purpose
• show no mercy
• show no sign/signs of
• spare no effort
• spare no expense
• stands no chance of
• take no chances
• take no notice
• take no prisoners
• take no time at all
• there is no escaping
• there is no free lunch
• there is no question of
• there is no such thing as a free lunch
• there's no accounting for taste
• there's no denying
• there's no dishonor in
• there's no fool like an old fool
• There's no getting away from
• there's no going back
• there's no holding him back
• there's no saying
• there's no smoke without fire
• there's no telling
• there's no time like the present
• to little/no effect
• to no avail
• to no good purpose
• took no notice of
• took no part
• under no compulsion
• under no condition
• under no legal obligation
• under no obligation
• up to no good
• vote of no confidence
• want no part of/in
• waste no time
• whether or no
• yes and no
• you have no idea

Kids Definition

no

1 of 3 adverb

(ˈ)nō 

1

—used to express the negative of an alternative

shall we go to the game or no

2

: in no respect or degree

—used in comparisons

it is no better than I expected it to be

3

: not so

—used to express disagreement or refusal

no, I'm not hungry

4

—used with a following adjective to imply a meaning expressed by the opposite positive statement

no uncertain terms

5

—used to emphasize a following negative or to introduce a statement that is clearer or has more emphasis

has the right, no, the duty, to continue

6

—used to express surprise, doubt, or disbelief

no—you don't say

no

2 of 3 adjective

1

a

: not any

has no money

b

: hardly any : very little

finished in no time

2

: not a

I'm no expert

no

3 of 3 noun

ˈnō 

plural noes or nos ˈnōz 

1

: an act or instance of refusing or denying by the use of the word no : denial

2

a

: a negative vote or decision

b

plural : persons voting in the negative

Medical Definition

no

1 of 2 abbreviation

number

No

2 of 2 symbol

nobelium