not

adverb

Definition of notnext
as in never
in no way or under no circumstances The food was so burnt that it was not edible.

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for not
  1. never
  2. rarely
  3. seldom
Adverb
  • That’s because even if the tiniest sliver of the sun remains visible, the landscape stays surprisingly bright, the sky never falls into twilight, and the sun’s spectacular corona remains hidden.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In The Housemaid’s Secret, Millie Calloway (Sweeney) returns, taking a job keeping house for a woman she’s never allowed to see, only to discover the truth behind the locked door that threatens to expose secrets far darker than her own.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of never
Adverb
  • The film takes cannibalism – rarely broached in Malaysian popular cinema – as both literal premise and social metaphor, training its lens on characters pushed to extremes by poverty and ambition.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • There are also plenty of trainers – two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert among them – who rarely balk at running Derby winners back two weeks later in the Preakness.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarely
Adverb
  • While the group is nominally focused on promoting the relationship between the United States and Israel, its advertising focus seldom mentions Israel.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In a town that seldom sees both MLB teams contending at the same time, the Sox and Cubs have made this one of the more memorable summers in years.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of seldom
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.

Phrases Containing not

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nosy
not
notabilities
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Cite this Entry

“Not.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/not. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on not

Nglish: Translation of not for Spanish Speakers

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