never
never
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "never" is /ˈnev.ər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
nev: /nev/
/n/ as in "n"ice
/e/ as in "e"gg
/v/ as in "v"ine
ər: /ər/
/ər/ as in "er"ror
Word Form Variations
"Never" itself doesn't have singular/plural variations in the same way a noun does. It's an adverb, and its variations are more about degree or related forms, not number. Here's a breakdown of what you might be thinking of:
never: This is the base form and most common usage. It's an adverb of frequency meaning "not ever."
There aren't really other word form variations in the traditional noun/verb/adjective sense. However, you can create related words or phrases:
nonever: This is a less common word, sometimes used as an adjective or noun. It means "not ever happening" or "something that never happens." It's often used in technical or specialized contexts.
never-ending: This is a compound adjective meaning "having no end."
nevertheless: This is a conjunction meaning "in spite of that" or "however." It's related in concept but a different word.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
"Never" primarily functions as an adverb. It's not typically used as a noun, verb, or adjective in standard English. Therefore, the primary definition and associated information will be for its adverbial form.
Adverb:
Definition: At no time; not ever. Expresses a complete absence of occurrence or frequency.
Synonyms: Not at any time, at no point, under no circumstances, absolutely not, by no means.
Antonyms: Always, ever, perpetually, constantly, invariably, regularly, frequently, often.
Example: "I have never been to Paris."
Less Common/Constructed Uses:
While "never" isn't standardly used as other parts of speech, we can explore some conceptual uses, acknowledging these are not typical dictionary entries:
(Constructed Noun - nonever): A time that will never happen; an impossibility. (This is not a standard English word, but a conceptual extension.)
Synonyms: Impossibility, unlikelihood, nonoccurrence.
Antonyms: Likelihood, possibility, eventuality.
Example (Conceptual): "The nonever was a constant topic of discussion."
(Constructed Verb - to never - highly unconventional): To perpetually avoid or refrain from. (This is not standard English.)
Synonyms: To avoid, to abstain from, to refrain from, to shun.
Antonyms: To do, to engage in, to participate in.
Example (Conceptual and Unnatural): "They nevered all social gatherings."
(Constructed Adjective - nevering - highly unconventional): Not occurring; perpetually absent. (This is not standard English.)
Synonyms: Absent, nonexistent, non-occurring, infrequent.
Antonyms: Present, existing, occurring, frequent.
Example (Conceptual and Unnatural): "The never-ending rain caused a drought."
Examples of Use
Literature:
"Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever." (Elie Wiesel, Night) This powerful use of "never" emphasizes the lasting impact of trauma.
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." (George Eliot) This quote offers a message of hope and possibility.
News/Online Publications:
"The omicron variant has changed the pandemic, and we may never return to what was considered normal." (CNN) This news excerpt uses "never" to express a potential permanent shift in circumstances.
"I never thought I'd see the day..." (Common phrase used in online comments and social media) This phrase is often used to express surprise or disbelief at current events.
Entertainment:
"Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down..." (Rick Astley, "Never Gonna Give You Up") This song's repetitive use of "never" is a key part of its catchy and memorable nature.
"May the odds be ever in your favor." (Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games) While not using "never" directly, the phrase's popularity has led to parodies and variations, sometimes including "never," such as "May the odds be never in your favor," used humorously or ironically.
General Public Discourse:
"I've never been so happy!" (Common expression of joy) This simple sentence emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's happiness.
"He said he would never do that again." (Common expression of promise or denial) This demonstrates how "never" is used to express strong intention.
"Never say never." (Common idiom) This proverb expresses the idea that anything is possible.
10 Famous Quotes Using Never
"Never, never, never give up." — Winston Churchill
"I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." — Estée Lauder
"Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations." — Dr. Mae Jemison
"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." — Babe Ruth
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Never be silent." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." — George Eliot
"Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not." — Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
"Never complain, never explain." — Benjamin Disraeli
"Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight." — Phyllis Diller
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it — and never stop." — Winston Churchillp on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about." – Winston Churchill
Etymology
Let's break down the etymology of "never" in a simple way.
"Never" comes from Old English næfre, which itself is a combination of two parts:
ne: This part means "not." It's related to other words like "no" and "nor."
æfre: This part means "ever."
So, if you put those two parts together, næfre literally means "not ever." It's a pretty straightforward combination!
The first known use of næfre (and thus, "never") was way back in Old English times, probably around the 8th or 9th century. At that point, it already had the same basic meaning it has today: "at no time," or "not ever." It was used to express the absence of something happening.
Over time, the word evolved slightly in spelling and pronunciation, but its core meaning has remained remarkably consistent for over a thousand years. It's a testament to how some words can stick around and keep their meaning intact through centuries of language change!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Never
Common Phrases and Idioms:
Never say never: This idiom means that even unlikely things are possible. It encourages an open mind and a sense of possibility.
Never give up: This is a motivational phrase urging perseverance in the face of challenges.
Never mind: This phrase is used to dismiss something as unimportant or to politely decline an offer.
Never you mind: Similar to "never mind," but sometimes used with a slightly stronger tone, implying that something is not the other person's business.
Never in my life: This phrase expresses extreme surprise or disbelief at something that has happened.
Never a dull moment: This idiom describes a situation that is always exciting or eventful. Sometimes used sarcastically.
Better late than never: This proverb suggests that it's preferable to do something late than not at all.
It never rains but it pours: This idiom suggests that misfortunes tend to come together.
Well, I never!: An exclamation of surprise or shock, often used humorously or ironically.
Phrases and Idioms Using Synonyms (for similar effect):
While "never" itself is quite specific, we can look at phrases using synonyms like "not ever" or "at no time" to get a broader picture of how this concept is used:
Not ever: While less idiomatic, this phrase is sometimes used for emphasis. "I will not ever forgive you."
At no time: This phrase is more formal and is often used in official documents or announcements. "At no time were we informed of the risks."
Why "Never" Can Be Tricky for Idioms:
"Never" is already a strong negative word, so it doesn't often need to be combined with other words to create idiomatic expressions. Many of the common phrases using "never" are already quite direct and literal in their meaning. It's the core meaning of "never" itself that creates the impact, rather than a complex metaphorical twist. This is why there aren't a huge number of highly colorful or unusual idioms built around "never." Its power lies in its simplicity.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of never from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
