no

I UK [nəʊ] / US [noʊ] adverb, determiner ***

Summary:

No is used in the following ways: - as an adverb (for giving an answer): "Would you like some tea?" "No, thanks." ♦ "You are very selfish sometimes." "No, I'm not." (before a comparative adjective or adverb) ♦ She's no taller than Jerry. - as a determiner: There's no butter in the fridge. ♦ No smoking. ♦ He's no fool.
Ways of saying no:
I'm afraid not → a polite way of saying no Not really → used when saying no without being definite I don't think so/Not as far as I know → used when you think that you know something but are not completely sure Certainly not/Definitely not → used for emphasizing that your answer to a question or request is definitely no Of course not → used to say no when you think an idea is stupid or insulting I couldn't/No thanks → used when politely saying no to something that someone has offered you Not likely/No way → an informal and very definite way of saying no You must be joking! → an informal way of saying no that shows that you think somebody's suggestion or request is crazy
Examples:
"Are you coming tonight?" "I'm afraid not, I have to work." "Is there something special you'd like to do for your birthday?" "Not really, I'd be happy to stay at home." "Has Mr Smith checked out of his hotel yet?" "Not as far as I know, no." "Can I stay up to watch the film?" "Certainly not, it's time you went to bed!" "You didn't tell Paul what I said, did you?" "Of course not, you're my friend!" "Would you like some cake?" "No thanks/I couldn't, I've just had a big lunch." "Are you going to apologize to them?" "No way! It's all their fault!" "Are you coming up the mountain with us, then?" "You must be joking! I'm not going out in this weather." ➡ yes

1) mainly spoken used for making a negative reply

a) used for giving a negative answer to something that someone asks or offers you

"Are you still working at the clinic?" "No, I work at the hospital now."

"Haven't we met before?" "No, I don't think so."

"Do you want another cup of coffee?" "No, thanks. I've had enough."

say no:

I'm sorry, but I'll have to say no this time.

the answer is no (= used for saying very firmly that someone must stop asking for something):

For the last time, the answer is no!

b) used for saying that a statement someone has made is not true

"You're always blaming me whenever something goes wrong." "No, I'm not."

"Kate is Dave's sister." "No, she's not – they're cousins."

c) used for agreeing with a negative statement or for agreeing to a negative request

"Don't forget to make the reservation". "No, I won't".

"We're not as young as we used to be". "No, we're certainly not".

d) used for showing that you are shocked, surprised, or disappointed about something that someone has just said

"He drank five pints of beer in an hour." "No! Really?"

2) not any

a) used for saying that there is not even one person or thing

There's absolutely no reason to get up early tomorrow morning.

I have no living cousins that I know about.

He had been given almost no opportunity to practise.

There was no hospital in the town.

b) not any amount of something

There's no time to stop and talk.

I can't pay – I've no money.

3)

a) not allowed used on signs or in instructions to say that something is not allowed

No smoking.

She had completely ignored the "No Entry" sign.

b) used for telling someone, especially a child, not to do something

No! Don't touch that, it's hot.

4) not at all

a) used for saying that someone or something cannot be described in a particular way

It is no surprise that the company failed.

I'm no expert on Japan, but I feel sure the economy will improve dramatically.

He's no fool – he can see what you're trying to do.

b) used before words such as "small" or "great" when they are used before nouns to give them the opposite meaning

Getting the two men to sit down together and talk was no small achievement.

After the argument he stopped speaking to me, but actually it was no great loss.

c) used before adjectives and adverbs

I enjoy tennis, but I'm no good at it.

I asked Jane if she knew, but she was no help.

We played no better or worse than usual.

5) spoken used for correcting yourself used as a way of correcting something that you have just said

I gave him four pounds – no, five.

It was last Wednesday – no, Thursday.

6) spoken used for emphasizing what you have said used as a way of emphasizing the negative meaning of what you have said

He didn't explain anything. No, we just had to figure it out for ourselves.

•

there's no knowing/saying/telling etc — it is impossible to know/say etc what is true or what will happen next

There's no saying what they might be capable of achieving.

There's no telling how much she overheard.

- won't take no for an answer

See:

can I

II UK [nəʊ] / US [noʊ] noun [countable]
Word forms "no":
singular no plural noes

a negative answer or vote

His answer was a firm no.

There were more noes than yeses to the proposal.