not — English Dictionary

Adverb

1. Negates the meaning of the modified verb.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Did you take out the trash? — No, I did not. I do not think it was my turn, was it?

   Not knowing any better, I went ahead.

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   It was felt desirable that she not leave school before fourteen.

   I'd rather MoM (did) not stay, cuz the best thing about a holiday is not working.

   Not a day passes when I don't regret not having enrolled in medicine.

   People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.

   The sound of Abba singing ‘Dancing Queen’ had started up in a room the other side of the court. Adrian slammed the window shut. ‘That’ll teach you to throw things out of the window,’ said Gary. ‘It’ll teach me not to throw things out of the window.’

   I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I'm going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.

   Oh, Pete. This is not the gym. — That’s right, Anna. This is the mailroom.

2. To no degree.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   That is not red; it's green.

   It's not you, it's me.

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   Expectation: Everybody in the family has to love everybody else. Reaction: Not the ghost of Christmas past, present, or future could pull this one off unless feeling is already there.

3. Used to indicate the opposite or near opposite, often in a form of understatement.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   That day was not the best day of my life. (meaning the day was bad or awful)

   It was not my favorite movie of all time. (meaning the speaker dislikes or strongly dislikes the movie)

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   After not a few threats, they got what they’d been after for so long.

   In the not too distant future my view on the matter might be not a million miles away from yours.

   I wonder if I shouldn't see a doctor - I've been feeling funny the last few days.

4. Used before a determiner phrase, a pronominal phrase etc. to convey a negative attitude (e.g. denial, sadness, anger) towards something.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Oh god, not that! Anything but that!

   Not another rainy day!

5. Used before a non-finite clause (especially a gerund-participial clause) or less commonly a determiner phrase to ironically convey some attitude (e.g. surprise, incredulity, amusement, or embarrassment) towards something.

   Usage

   • Informal
   • Ironic
   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Not me writing example sentences again.

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   Not me crying by the end of that!! You are a brilliant, beautiful human who deserves no less than the world. Thank you for taking the time to watch unicorn store. It’s a film that means so much to me.

   [Keke] Palmer tells Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager to “mind y'all's business” when they ask about her relationship with [Darius] Jackson. ¶ “Not y’all trying to get into it! They trying it on the Today show,” Palmer joked when the subject was first brought up on Today With Hoda & Jenna.

Conjunction

1. And not.

   Examples

   I wanted a plate of shrimp, not a bucket of chicken.

   He painted the car blue and black, not solid purple.

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   We can't run this bar without her. Not and raise two kids.

Interjection

1. Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.

   Usage

   • Slang

   Synonyms

   I don't thinkpsychbender

   Examples

   Near-synonyms: I don't think; psych; bender (obsolete, UK)

   I really like hanging out with my little brother watching Barney … not!

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   Sure, you’re perfect the way you are … not!

   You've got a swell chance to make this [baseball] team, you have, not! Third base is my job, Freshie. Why, you tow-head, you couldn't play marbles. You butter-finger, can't you stop anything?

   "See?" "Uh-huh! Clear and lucid to the point of limpidity - 'not."

   After Seaworld it was down to Tijuana in Mexico. Charming place - not.

   Because, of course, sympathy is finite -- and if you use it up on the wrong person then you won't have any left. Not.

Noun

1. An instance of using the word “not”; a negation or denial.

   Examples

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   The children are taught to be afraid of winter, of war, of death, of hard times, of disease, of examinations. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that children so seldom find the conversation of their elders uplifting. It is full of don’ts, buts and nots.

Adverb

1. negation of a word or group of words

   Synonyms

   non

   Examples

   he does not speak French

   she is not going

   More examples (4)

   they are not friends

   not many

   not much

   not at all