never — English Dictionary

Adverb

1. At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   I never smoke.

   I finally finished, and I never do wanna do it again.

   We were at the same college, but happened never to meet.

   More examples (6)

   I'll never not like you.

   Why should I love this Gentleman? Tis odds / He never will affect me;

   In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.

   "I never thought you were so fond of Mr. Phillips that you'd require two handkerchiefs to dry your tears just because he was going away," said Marilla.

   Never speak of the symptoms of your patient in his presence, unless questioned by the doctor, whose orders you are always to obey implicitly.

   "You don't believe the Soviet Union is going to reduce its defense budget, do you?" Boggs asked. Premier Chou didn't wait for the translator to finish. "Never, never, never," he replied in perfect English.

2. Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   I have never seen snow.

   There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel: I mean your love.

   More examples (1)

   "He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"

   1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Chapter XIII: The Delights of Anticipation, I never saw such an infatuated man.

3. Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the simple past tense; also used absolutely).

   Usage

   • Colloquial
   • not-comparable

   Examples

   The police say I stole the car, but I never did it.

   You said you were going to mow the lawn today. – I never!

   More examples (2)

   "You're never going to break in?" "This instant, if you'll, help me; in five or ten minutes, if you won't."

   Well I looked at Jay and I said "hey, did you hear what I just heard?" He nodded his head and his face turned red and he never said a word

Verb

1. Did not; didn't.

   Usage

   • Manglish
   • Singlish
   • auxiliary

   Antonyms

   ever

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   I told him to go to Woodlands to buy durian for me. He came back and said no durian. But he some more said-ah, he got see people selling durian in Bukit Timah. I ask him-ah. Why you never buy from Bukit Timah.

   That's what he said. But I never see anything. Maybe it's an invisible dog. Or very good at hiding.

Interjection

1. A statement of defiance

   Examples

   ‘Guess what, I've won the pools!’ ‘Never!’

Adverb

1. not at all; certainly not; not in any circumstances; not ever; at no time in the past or future

   Synonyms

   ne'er

   Antonyms

   ever

   Examples

   I have never been to China

   I shall never forget this day

   More examples (4)

   had never seen a circus

   never on Sunday

   I will never marry you!

   never fear