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for nothing

 - 3 dictionary results

noth⋅ing

  [nuhth-ing]
Use for nothing in a Sentence
–noun
1. no thing; not anything; naught: to say nothing.
2. no part, share, or trace (usually fol. by of): The house showed nothing of its former magnificence.
3. something that is nonexistent.
4. nonexistence; nothingness: The sound faded to nothing.
5. something or someone of no importance or significance: Money is nothing when you're without health.
6. a trivial action, matter, circumstance, thing, or remark: to exchange a few nothings when being introduced.
7. a person of little or no importance; a nobody.
8. something that is without quantity or magnitude.
9. a cipher or naught: Nothing from nine leaves nine.
10. (used in conventional responses to expressions of thanks): Think nothing of it. It's nothing. Nothing to it.
–adverb
11. in no respect or degree; not at all: It was nothing like that. Nothing dismayed, he repeated his question.
–adjective
12. amounting to nothing, as in offering no prospects for satisfaction, advancement, or the like: She was stuck in a nothing job.
—Idioms
13. for nothing,
a. free of charge.
b. for no apparent reason or motive.
c. futilely; to no avail: They had gone to a great deal of expense for nothing.
14. in nothing flat, in very little time: Dinner was finished in nothing flat.
15. make nothing of,
a. to treat lightly; regard as easy.
b. to be unsuccessful in comprehending: He could make nothing of the complicated directions.
16. nothing but, nothing other than; only: We could see nothing but fog.
17. nothing doing,
a. Informal. emphatically no; certainly not.
b. no activity, inducement, advantage, etc., present to the eye: We drove through the town but there seemed to be nothing doing.
18. nothing less than or short of, absolutely; completely: She was used to nothing less than the best.
19. think nothing of,
a. to treat casually.
b. to regard as insignificant: He thinks nothing of lying to conceal his incompetence.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE nānthing, nathing; see no 2 , thing 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To for nothing
noth·ing   (nŭth'ĭng)   
pron.  

  1. No thing; not anything: The box contained nothing. I've heard nothing about it.

  2. No part; no portion: Nothing remains of the old house but the cellar hole.

  3. One of no consequence, significance, or interest: The new nonsmoking policy is nothing to me.

n.  

  1. Something that has no existence.

  2. Something that has no quantitative value; zero: a score of two to nothing.

  3. One that has no substance or importance; a nonentity: "A nothing is a dreadful thing to hold onto" (Edna O'Brien).

adj.  Insignificant or worthless: "the utterly nothing role of a wealthy suitor" (Bosley Crowther).
adv.  In no way or degree; not at all: She looks nothing like her sister.

[Middle English, from Old English nāthing : nā, no; see no2 + thing, thing; see thing.]
Usage Note: According to the traditional rule, nothing is invariably treated as a singular, even when followed by an exception phrase containing a plural noun: Nothing except your fears stands (not stand) in your way. Nothing but roses meets (not meet) the eye. See Usage Note at none.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

nothing 
O.E. naþing, from nan "not one" (see none) + þing "thing." Nothingness "non-existence" first recorded c.1631.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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