nothing
no thing; not anything; naught: to say nothing.
no part, share, or trace (usually followed by of): The house showed nothing of its former magnificence.
something that is nonexistent.
nonexistence; nothingness: The sound faded to nothing.
something of no importance or significance: Wealth is nothing if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it.
a trivial action, matter, circumstance, thing, or remark: to exchange a few nothings when being introduced.
a person of little or no importance; a nobody.
something that is without quantity or magnitude.
a cipher or naught: Nothing from nine leaves nine.
(used in conventional responses to expressions of thanks): Think nothing of it. It's nothing. Nothing to it.
in no respect or degree; not at all: It was nothing like that. Nothing dismayed, he repeated his question.
amounting to nothing, as in offering no prospects for satisfaction, advancement, or the like: She was stuck in a nothing job.
Idioms about nothing
for nothing,
free of charge.
for no apparent reason or motive.
futilely; to no avail: They had gone to a great deal of expense for nothing.
in nothing flat, in very little time: Dinner was finished in nothing flat.
make nothing of,
to treat lightly; regard as easy.
to be unsuccessful in comprehending: He could make nothing of the complicated directions.
nothing but, nothing other than; only: We could see nothing but fog.
nothing doing,
Informal. emphatically no; certainly not.
no activity, inducement, advantage, etc., present to the eye: We drove through the town but there seemed to be nothing doing.
nothing less than / short of, absolutely; completely: She was used to nothing less than the best.
think nothing of,
to treat casually.
to regard as insignificant: He thinks nothing of lying to conceal his incompetence.
Origin of nothing
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use nothing in a sentence
Instead, the Know-Nothings were briefly a force to be reckoned with.
A Brief History of Wingnuts in America; From George Washington to Woodstock | John Avlon | August 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut what to do about the determination of Tea Party know-nothings and those who think just like them?
Let your mind wander as I whisper sweet nothings into your right ear, then in your left ear.
Kanye West whispers sweet nothings to Kim Kardashian at the Louise Goldin show at Milk Studios on Wednesday night.
Caption This: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Hit Fashion Week | Isabel Wilkinson | September 13, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen you say around us, again, around us liberal arts know-nothings.
Hanging Out with Ian McEwan: Full Transcript | The Daily Beast Video | April 14, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Then their talk ran fast on a thousand nothings; but the shadow on Musa's face haunted Mary.
God Wills It! | William Stearns DavisHere was an unusual man, who ignored the conventional preliminary nothings, beating down the grass before the play, as it were.
When Valmond Came to Pontiac, Complete | Gilbert ParkerHe passed whole hours in remembering mere nothings, and comparing his present life with his past.
A Passion in the Desert | Honore de BalzacI drew trifling tremendous conclusions from the merest nothings.
In Accordance with the Evidence | Oliver OnionsShe had loved him because it is natural for young girls to love men who whisper sweet nothings to them.
Maupassant Original Short Stories (180), Complete | Guy de Maupassant
British Dictionary definitions for nothing
/ (ˈnʌθɪŋ) /
(indefinite) no thing; not anything, as of an implied or specified class of things: I can give you nothing
no part or share: to have nothing to do with this crime
a matter of no importance or significance: it doesn't matter, it's nothing
indicating the absence of anything perceptible; nothingness
indicating the absence of meaning, value, worth, etc: to amount to nothing
zero quantity; nought
be nothing to
not to concern or be significant to (someone)
to be not nearly as good as
have nothing to do with or be nothing to do with to have no connection with
have nothing on or have got nothing on
to have no engagements to keep
to be undressed or naked
informal to compare unfavourably with
in nothing flat informal in almost no time; very quickly or soon
nothing but not something other than; only
nothing doing informal an expression of dismissal, disapproval, lack of compliance with a request, etc
nothing if not at the very least; certainly
nothing less than or nothing short of downright; truly
there's nothing for it there's no choice; there's no other course
there's nothing like a general expression of praise: there's nothing like a good cup of tea
there's nothing to it it is very simple, easy, etc
think nothing of
to regard as routine, easy, or natural
to have no compunction or hesitation about
to have a very low opinion of
to say nothing of as well as; even disregarding: he was warmly dressed in a shirt and heavy jumper, to say nothing of his thick overcoat
stop at nothing to be prepared to do anything; be unscrupulous or ruthless
in no way; not at all: he looked nothing like his brother
informal a person or thing of no importance or significance
sweet nothings words of endearment or affection
Origin of nothing
1usage For nothing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with nothing
In addition to the idioms beginning with nothing
- nothing but
- nothing doing
- nothing if not
- nothing like
- nothing new under the sun
- nothing of the kind
- nothing short of
- nothing to do with
- nothing to it, there's
- nothing to sneeze at
- nothing to speak of
- nothing to write home about
- nothing ventured, nothing gained
also see:
- come to nothing
- count for (nothing)
- go for nothing
- have nothing on
- have nothing to do with
- here goes (nothing)
- in no time (nothing flat)
- leave a lot (nothing) to be desired
- make nothing of
- make something of (nothing)
- much ado about nothing
- not know beans (from nothing)
- not to mention (say nothing of)
- stop at nothing
- sweet nothings
- think nothing of
- want for nothing
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse