# not

> English word · Adverb · IPA /nɒt/ · frequency rank #23

## Definitions
1. Negates the meaning of the modified verb.
2. To no degree.
3. Used to indicate the opposite or near opposite, often in a form of understatement.
4. Used before a determiner phrase, a pronominal phrase etc. to convey a negative attitude (e.g. denial, sadness, anger) towards something.
5. Used before a non-finite clause (especially a gerund-participial clause) or less commonly a determiner phrase to ironically convey some attitude (e.g. surprise, incredulity, amusement, embarrassment) towards something.

## Etymology
From Middle English not, nat, variant of noght, naht (“not, nothing”), from Old English *nōht, nāht (“nought, nothing”), short for nōwiht, nāwiht (“nothing”, literally “not anything”), corresponding to ne (“not”) + ōwiht, āwiht (“anything”), corresponding to ā (“ever, always”) + wiht (“thing, creature”).
Cognate with Scots nat, naucht (“not”), Saterland Frisian nit (“not”), West Frisian net (“not”), Dutch niet (“not”), German nicht (“not”). Compare nought, naught and aught. More at no, wight, whit.

## Easily confused with
- **NZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nz)
- **NT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nt)
- **NP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-np)
- **nu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nu)
- **nr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nr)
- **now** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-now)
- **nov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nov)
- **NYC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nyc)
- **nut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nut)
- **NSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nsa)
- **NSW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nsw)
- **nun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nun)
- **NPR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-npr)
- **NRA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nra)
- **nye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nye)
- **NYT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nyt)
- **NYU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nyu)
- **NPC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-npc)
- **NRC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nrc)
- **NSF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/not-vs-nsf)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/not