- not at any time; not on any occasion
- You never help me.
- He'll never forget her.
- He has never been abroad.
- She had never seen so much snow.
- She left the country, vowing never to return again.
- ‘Would you vote for him?’ ‘Never.’
- ‘I work for a company called Orion Technology.’ ‘Never heard of them.’
- Never in all my life have I seen such a horrible thing.
- Never ever tell anyone your password.
- Never before has English cuisine been so stylish.
- used to emphasize a negative statement instead of ‘not’
- I never knew (= didn't know until now) you had a twin sister.
- I never realized just how easy it is.
- (especially British English) Someone might find out, and that would never do (= that is not acceptable).
- He never so much as smiled (= did not smile even once).
- Most people have never even heard of Iggy.
- (especially British English) ‘I told my boss exactly what I thought of her.’ ‘You never did!’ (= ‘Surely you didn't!’)
- (British English, slang) ‘You took my bike.’ ‘No, I never.’
- (old-fashioned or humorous) Never fear (= Do not worry), everything will be all right.
Word OriginOld English nǣfre, from ne ‘not’ + ǣfre ‘ever’.
Idioms
See never in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee never in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishnever say never
- used to say that nothing is impossible
- Many thought the book could not become a movie, but with Hollywood never say never.
on the never-never
- (old-fashioned, British English, informal) on hire purchase (= by making payments over a long period)
- to buy a new car on the never-never
Well, I never (did)!
- (old-fashioned) used to express surprise or disapproval
- Well, I never! Fancy getting married and not telling us!
Check pronunciation:
never