notadverb
uk/nɒt/us/nɑːt/A1 used to form a negative phrase after verbs like "be", "can", "have", "will", "must", etc., usually used in the short form "n't" in speech:
He's not fat!
I won't tell her.
I can't go.
Don't you like her?
It isn't hard (= it is easy).
I'm just not interested.
He's not bad-looking (= he is fairly attractive).
He's not as tall as his father.
A1 used to give the next word or group of words a negative meaning:
I told you not to do that.
I like most vegetables but not cabbage.
"Come and play, Dad." "Not now, Jamie."
It was Yuko who said that, not Richard.
A2 used after verbs like "be afraid", "hope", "suspect", etc. in short, negative replies:
"Is he coming with us?" "I hope not."
"Are you done?" "I'm afraid not."
if not
A2 used to say what the situation will be if something does not happen:
I hope to see you there but, if not, I'll call you.
or not
A2 used to express the possibility that something might not happen:
Are you going to reply or not?
I still don't know whether she's coming or not.
humorous sometimes used at the end of a statement to show that you did not mean what you have said:
That was the best meal I've ever had - not!
More examples
- Cheer up! It's not that bad!
- She's not one of my close circle of friends.
- Party unity is threatened when members will not compromise.
- The TV won't work if the aerial's not connected.
- It's not very dignified behaviour for a 54-year-old man.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Yes, no & not
- anything
- bet
- betcha
- does a bear/do bears shit in the woods? idiom
- far
- fear
- hear, hear! idiom
- hell
- no dice idiom
- no way idiom
- noes
- not by any manner of means idiom
- not so much sth as sth idiom
- not that idiom
- nothing doing idiom
- perish the thought idiom
- see sb in hell before ... idiom
- think
- yea or nay idiom
- yes
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Idiom(s)
not all that
not at all
not be up to much
not that