Definitions for Never
ˈnɛv ərNev·er

Princeton's WordNet(3.87 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. never, ne'eradverb

   not ever; at no time in the past or future

   "I have never been to China"; "I shall never forget this day"; "had never seen a circus"; "never on Sunday"; "I will never marry you!"

2. neveradverb

   not at all; certainly not; not in any circumstances

   "never fear"; "bringing up children is never easy"; "that will never do"; "what is morally wrong can never be politically right"

Wiktionary(3.29 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. neveradverb

   At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.

2. neveradverb

   Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.

3. neveradverb

   Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the simple past tense; also used absolutely).

4. Etymology: næfre

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. NEVERadverb

   Etymology: ne ever, næfre , Saxon; ne æfre , not ever.

   1. At no time.2. It is used in a form of speech handed down by the best writers, but lately accused, I think, with justice, of solecism; as, he is mistaken though never so wise. It is now maintained, that propriety requires it to be expressed thus, he is mistaken though ever so wise; that is, he is mistaken how wise soever he be. The common mode can only be defended by supplying a very harsh and unprecedented ellipsis; he is mistaken though so wise, as never was any: such however is the common use of the word among the best authors.

   By its own force destroy’d, fruition ceas’d,
   And always weary’d, I was never pleas’d. Matthew Prior.

   Never any thing was so unbred as that odious man. William Congreve, Way of the World.

   Be it never so true which we teach the world to believe, yet if once their affections begin to be alienated, a small thing persuadeth them to change their opinions. Richard Hooker.

   Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say. Gen. xxxiv. 12.

   In a living creature, though never so great, the sense and the affects of any one part of the body, instantly make a transcursion throughout the whole body. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist.

   They destroyed all, were it never so pleasant, within a mile of the town. Richard Knolles, Hist. of the Turks.

   He that shuts his eyes against a small light, would not be brought to see that which he had no mind to see, let it be placed in never so clear a light, and never so near him. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

   That prince whom you espouse, although never so vigorously, is the principal in war, you but a second. Jonathan Swift.

   3. In no degree.

   Whosoever has a faithful friend to guide him, may carry his eyes in another man’s head, and yet see never the worse. Robert South, Sermons.

   4. It seems in some phrases to have the sense of an adjective. Not any.

   He answered him to never a word, insomuch that the governour marvelled. Matt. xxvii. 14.

   5. It is much used in composition; as, never-ending, having no end; of which some examples are subjoined.

   Nature assureth us by never-failing experience, and reason by infallible demonstration, that our times upon the earth have neither certainty nor durability. Walter Raleigh.

   Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sear,
   I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude. John Milton.

   Your never-failing sword made war to cease,
   And now you heal us with the acts of peace. Edmund Waller.

   So corn in fields, and in the garden flow’rs,
   Revive and raise themselves with mod’rate show’rs;
   But over-charg’d with never-ceasing rain,
   Become too moist. Edmund Waller.

   Our heroes of the former days,
   Deserv’d and gain’d their never-fading bays. Wentworth Dillon.

   Not Thracian Orpheus should transcend my lays,
   Nor Linus crown’d with never-fading bays. Dryden.

   Farewel, ye never-opening gates. John Dryden, Ovid.

   Leucippus, with his never-erring dart. Dryden.

   He to quench his drought so much inclin’d,
   May snowy fields and nitrous pastures find;
   Meet stores of cold so greedily pursu’d,
   And be refresh’d with never-wasting food. Richard Blackmore.

   Norton hung down his never-blushing head,
   And all was hush’d, as folly’s self lay dead. Alexander Pope, Dunc.

   What the weak head with strongest biass rules,
   Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools. Alexander Pope.

   Thy busy never-meaning face,
   Thy screw’d up front, thy state grimace. Jonathan Swift.

Webster Dictionary(4.75 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Neveradverb

   not ever; not at any time; at no time, whether past, present, or future

2. Neveradverb

   in no degree; not in the least; not

3. Etymology: [AS. nfre; ne not, no + fre ever.]

Freebase(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Never

   "Never" is a song recorded by rock band Heart. It was released as the second single from the band's self-titled 1985 album Heart. The song is an aggressive rock number with an uplifting lyric to a person who has been discouraged by love. Like their previous single "What About Love", the music video for "Never" was placed in heavy rotation on MTV. "Never" became Heart's biggest U.S. hit at the time, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked the first time that Heart earned two consecutive top-ten hits, and also the first time a Heart album generated two top-ten singles. The songs harmonic chorus highlights not only Ann Wilson's powerhouse vocal talent but also the vocal stamina of sister Nancy, who maintains a soprano harmony throughout the course of the song. This track was covered by Mandisa during the fifth season of American Idol."Never" appeared as a selectable song on an episode of Don't Forget the Lyrics and performed by En Vogue.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Never

   nev′ėr, adv. not ever: at no time: in no degree: not.—adv. Nev′ermore, at no future time.—conj. Nevertheless′, notwithstanding: in spite of that (earlier Natheless).—adv. Neverthemore′ (Spens.), none the more. [A.S. nǽfre—ne, not, ǽfre, ever.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Never' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #150

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Never' in Written Corpus Frequency: #175

3. Adverbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Never' in Adverbs Frequency: #28

Anagrams for Never »

1. nerve

How to pronounce Never?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Never in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Never in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Never in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of Never in a Sentence

1. Oprah Winfrey:

   Anyone whos ever met him is always amazed by what a genuine gentleman he is, hes so positive. Wants the best for me and everyone he knows. Truly wishes people well. Doesnt curse... Never have I heard him gossip or say a negative thing about anyone.

2. Roy Cohen:

   Have a legitimate reason why you are declining the position that is being offered, never insult the individual who extended the offer by just talking about how mediocre the opportunity was.

3. Charles Ponzi:

   I landed in this country with $ 2.50 in cash and $ 1 million in hopes, and those hopes never left me

4. Simon Coveney:

   From an Irish point of view there is some quite strong language that is positive, mainly that Britain is absolutely committed to what we call the backstop but more importantly they are determined to ensure that the backstop will never be necessary.

5. Dr. Felice Leonardo Buscaglia:

   Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.

Popularity rank by frequency of use