not

1 of 2

adverb

1
used as a function word to make negative a group of words or a word
2
used as a function word to stand for the negative of a preceding group of words
is sometimes hard to see and sometimes not

NOT

2 of 2

noun

: a logical operator (see operator sense 3a) that produces a statement that is the inverse (see inverse entry 2 sense 3a) of an input statement

Examples of not in a Sentence

Adverb He was standing not six feet away from me. The bullet passed not five inches from my head!

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, alteration of nought, from nought, pronoun — more at naught

Noun

not

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of not was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near not

Cite this Entry

“Not.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

not

adverb
1
used to make a word or group of words negative
the books are not here
2
used to stand for the negative of a group of words that comes before
is sometimes hard to see and sometimes not

More from Merriam-Webster on not

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!