Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: næfre, from ne- 'not' + æfre 'ever'

never

 adverb
     
nev‧er S1 W1
1 not at any time, or not once:
He's never been to Australia.
I'm never going back there again, not as long as I live.
It is never too late to give up smoking.
Never had/did/was etc
Never had she been so confused.
never ever (=used to emphasize what you are saying)
I'll never ever forgive him for leaving me.
Never again (=never after a particular time) would he return to Naples.
never in all my life (=used to emphasize how bad something was)
Never in all my life have I felt so humiliated.
never for one moment (=used to emphasize that you never thought something)
She had never for one moment imagined that it could happen to her.
somebody/something has never been known to do something (=used to say that something is strange because it has never happened before)
Max had never been known to leave home without telling anyone.
! Do not use another negative word (e.g. 'not') with never. Use ever with not: I've never seen her. | I haven't ever seen her.
2

you never know

spoken used to say that something which seems unlikely may happen:
Try it! You never know, you might be lucky.
3

I never knew (that)

spoken used to mean that you did not know something until now:
I never knew you played the guitar!
4

never so much as

used to emphasize that someone did not do something, especially when this seems surprising:
I do everything for him, and he's never so much as made me a cup of coffee.
5

that would/will never do

spoken used to say that you would not want something to happen:
Someone might discover our secret and that would never do.
6

never!

British English spoken used when you are very surprised by something:
'They're getting married next month.' 'Never!'
He's never going to cycle all the way to Manchester!
Well I never! I wouldn't have thought she was that old!
7

(no) I never!

British English spoken used to say that you did not do something bad that someone has said you did. Many teachers think this is not correct English:
'You cheated, didn't you?' 'No, I never.'
8

never say never

informal used to say that you should not say that you will never do something, because there is always a small possibility that you might do it
9

never say die

used to encourage someone not to give up
10

never fear

spoken old-fashioned used to tell someone not to worry:
She'll be back, never fear.

➔ never the twain shall meet

at twain (2)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary