Synonyms of nilnext
nil adjective

Examples of nil in a Sentence

They took a 2 to nil lead in the second half of the game. the difference in the audio performance of those two CD players is nil
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Neither hit, however, so the score midway through remained nil-nil. Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026 Nil-nil after 90 minutes, the game went to extra time and then penalties. James Horncastle, New York Times, 27 May 2026 Cruz Azul fans hope their team can do what Tigres UANL did to FC Cincinnati in the Round of 16 and pull off a frantic 5-1 comeback after falling behind 3-nil. Josh Gross, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026 The United Kingdom judges gave ABBA nil points at Eurovision, a rating some viewers (and ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus) think was an attempt at sabotage. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nil

Word History

Etymology

Latin, nothing, contraction of nihil, from Old Latin nihilum, from ne- not + hilum trifle — more at no

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nil was circa 1550

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Cite this Entry

“Nil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nil. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

nil

noun
: nothing at all : zero
nil adjective

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