Britannica Dictionary definition of NEVER
1
:
not ever
:
not at any time
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I will never shop at that store again.
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I have never seen that happen before.
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That man has never heard of you.
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We will never forget what we saw.
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You never know what you'll find at a flea market.
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I never meant to hurt you.
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She never really said that.
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There is never enough time to finish our work.
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Never in my whole life have I been so offended!
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A resume without a cover letter will never do. [=will never be considered acceptable]
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Never again will I buy a car from that dealer. = I will never again buy a car from that dealer.
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I gave him my business for years and never for one moment did I suspect that he was a criminal.
—
opposite always
2
chiefly British
a
—
used to express surprise, doubt, or disbelief
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“He's won the lottery.” “Never!”
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“They're getting married.” “Well, I never! [=I am very surprised or shocked to hear that they're getting married]”
b
—
used to say that you did not do something
never fear
—
used to tell someone not to worry or be afraid
never mind, never you mind
—
see 2mind
never say never
—
used to say that you should not say that you will never do something because you might change your mind later
never so much as
—
used to say that someone did not do something that was expected or should have been done
never the wiser
—
see 1wise