not
adverb /nɒt/
/nɑːt/
Idioms - (often reduced to n't) used with be, do or have to form the negative of verbs; used to form the negative of modal verbs like can or must
- She did not/didn’t see him.
- It’s not/It isn’t raining.
- It's cold, isn't it?
- Don't you eat meat?
- I can't see from here.
- He must not go.
- used to give the following word or phrase a negative meaning, or to reply in the negative
- He warned me not to be late.
- I was sorry not to have seen them.
- Not everybody agrees.
- They had still not decided.
- ‘Who's next?’ ‘Not me.’
- ‘What did you do at school?’ ‘Not a lot.’
- It's not easy being a parent (= it's difficult).
- It's not every day you get to meet a famous actor.
- used after hope, expect, believe, etc. to give a negative reply
- ‘Will she be there?’ ‘I hope not.’
- ‘Is it ready?’ ‘I'm afraid not.’
- (formal) ‘Does he know?’ ‘I believe not.’
- or not used to show a negative possibility
- I don't know if he's telling the truth or not.
- Whether you succeed or not depends on the how skilled you are.
- used to say that you do not want something or will not allow something
- ‘Some more?’ ‘Not for me, thanks.’
- ‘Can I throw this out?’ ‘Certainly not.’
- even less than
- She was standing not three feet in front of me.
- used to suggest that the opposite of the following word or phrase is true
- This could all happen in the not too distant future (= soon).
- His view on the matter was not a million miles away from (= close to) mine.
- (humorous, informal) used to emphasize the opposite of a statement
- Well, that sounds like a fun evening—not!
Word OriginMiddle English: contraction of the adverb nought.
Idioms
not a…
(also not one…)
- used for emphasis to mean ‘no thing or person’
- He didn't speak to me—not one word.
not at all
- used to politely accept thanks or to agree to something
- ‘Thanks a lot.’ ‘Not at all.’
- ‘Will it bother you if I smoke?’ ‘Not at all.’
not only… (but) (also)…
- used to emphasize that something else is also true
- She not only wrote the text but also selected the illustrations.
- He not only read the book, but also remembered what he had read.
not that
- used to state that you are not suggesting something
- She hasn't written—not that she said she would.