1
nothing
/ˈnʌθɪŋ/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of NOTHING
1
:
not anything
:
not a thing
-
There's nothing in my hands.
-
She knows nothing of/about our plans.
-
You have nothing to worry about.
-
“What are you doing?” “Nothing (much).”
-
There's nothing fun to do around here.
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I have nothing against them. [=I do not dislike or resent them]
-
We'll accept nothing less than a full refund. [=we will only accept a full refund]
-
It costs nothing for the first month. [=you do not have to pay anything for the first month]
-
The phone call was nothing more than a sales pitch. [=it was just a sales pitch and not anything else]
-
They live on practically nothing. [=no money]
-
This has nothing to do with you. [=it does not involve you in any way]
-
There's nothing else [=no more] to say.
-
If nothing else, you should send him a card. [=you should at least send him a card]
-
I've had next to nothing to eat. [=I have had very little to eat]
-
He could make nothing of the coded message. [=he could not understand the coded message at all]
-
We discussed plans for a new project, but nothing came of them. [=we did not do anything about what we discussed]
-
He left nothing to chance. [=he planned for every possibility]
-
The food leaves nothing to be desired. [=the food is excellent]
-
Their children lack/want for nothing. [=their children have everything they need]
-
Why should they help? There's nothing in it for them. [=they will not gain anything for themselves by helping]
-
It looks like nothing so much as a big stick. [=it looks very much like a big stick]
-
Those kids are nothing but trouble. [=they are always causing trouble]
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He is nothing if not persistent. [=he is extremely persistent]
-
“I'm quitting school.” “You'll do nothing of the sort!” [=you will not do that; I will not allow you to do that]
-
She'll stop at nothing [=she will do anything] to get what she wants.
-
She finished up in nothing flat. [=in no time at all; very quickly]
—
see also good-for-nothing
2
:
someone or something that has no interest, value, or importance
-
Money is nothing to them. [=they do not care at all about money]
-
You think that's bad? It's nothing compared to what I went through.
-
Don't get all upset over nothing.
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“Thanks for your help.” “It was nothing.” [=it was no trouble]
-
Your opinion means nothing to me.
-
“Are you hurt?” “Don't worry. It's nothing.”
-
All our work came to nothing. = All our work resulted in nothing.
-
He's nothing to me now. [=I don't care about him at all now]
have nothing on
—
see have
here goes nothing
—
see 1here
nothing daunted
—
see daunt
nothing doing
informal
—
used as a forceful way of saying “no” to a question or suggestion
-
He asked her to lend him the money, but she said nothing doing. [=she said that she would definitely not lend him the money]
-
“Why don't you try it?” “Nothing doing.” [=no way; definitely not]
nothing else for it
old-fashioned
or British
nothing for it
—
used to say that something must be done because there is no other choice
-
By the time we discovered the mistake, there was nothing else for it but to start over.
-
We don't want to sell the house, but there is nothing else for it (but to sell).
nothing in/to
◊ If you say that there is nothing in/to something, you mean that it is not true at all.
nothing like
1
—
used to say that something is very enjoyable or satisfying
2
British, informal
:
not nearly
nothing to it
—
used to say that something is very easy to do
on a hiding to nothing
—
see 2hiding
to say nothing of
—
see 1say
2
nothing
/ˈnʌθɪŋ/
adverb
2
nothing
/ˈnʌθɪŋ/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of NOTHING
nothing less than
1
—
used to give emphasis to a description
2
—
used to say that something is the least that a situation, person, etc., requires or will accept
-
He demands nothing less than the best service. [=he demands the best service]
-
I want nothing less than a full refund!
-
This job requires nothing less than our best effort.
nothing short of
—
used to give emphasis to a description
3
nothing
/ˈnʌθɪŋ/
noun
plural
nothings
plural
nothings
Britannica Dictionary definition of NOTHING
2
[noncount]
:
the number 0
:
zero
3
:
someone or something that has little or no worth, importance, or influence
[count]
[noncount]
for nothing
2
:
at no charge
:
for free
sweet nothings
:
loving and romantic words