# never

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈnɛv.ə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #132

## Definitions
1. At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.
2. Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.
3. Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the simple past tense; also used absolutely).

## Etymology
From Middle English nevere, navere, nævere, from Old English nǣfre (“never”), equivalent to ne + ever.

## Easily confused with
- **novel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/never-vs-novel)
- **newer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/never-vs-newer)
- **Niger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/never-vs-niger)
- **Nevis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/never-vs-nevis)
- **nee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nee-vs-never)
- **ner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ner-vs-never)
- **need** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/need-vs-never)
- **near** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/near-vs-never)
- **nave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nave-vs-never)
- **nene** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nene-vs-never)
- **neve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/neve-vs-never)
- **Neva** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/neva-vs-never)
- **NEET** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/neet-vs-never)
- **nerve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nerve-vs-never)
- **navel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/navel-vs-never)
- **nerves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nerves-vs-never)
- **nearer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nearer-vs-never)
- **nether** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nether-vs-never)
- **neuter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/neuter-vs-never)

## Common misspellings (7)
`enver`, `neevr`, `neverr`, `nevre`, `nevver`, `nnever`, `nveer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/never