nothing

Meanings

1. 1pronounsingular

   Not anything; no single thing at all.

   Grammar: Takes a singular verb: nothing is wrong. Do not add another negative: I saw nothing, not I didn't see nothing.

   Patterns

   • nothing to do
   • nothing but something
   • nothing like something

   There is nothing in the fridge.

   She said nothing during the meeting.

   Nothing could stop him from finishing the race.

2. 2nouncountable or uncountable

   A person or thing of no importance or value, or the idea of zero or absence.

   Grammar: Used as a noun with a: a mere nothing; the nothing outside.

   Patterns

   • a mere nothing
   • come to nothing

   To him, the huge loss was a mere nothing.

   Their plans came to nothing.

   The scientist asked how something arose from nothing.

3. 3adverbnot comparableinformal

   Not at all.

   Grammar: Informal use before a comparison: nothing like it.

   Patterns

   • nothing like something
   • nothing near something

   The sequel was nothing like the first film.

   This tastes nothing like the real thing.

   He looks nothing like his brother.

Word forms

Common combinations

nothing but

She wants nothing but peace.

for nothing

I did it for nothing, just to help.

come to nothing

The project came to nothing.

nothing special

The meal was nothing special.

have nothing to do with

That has nothing to do with me.

stop at nothing

He will stop at nothing to win.

Synonyms and how they differ

none

None refers back to a group (none of the cakes), while nothing refers to things in general.

zero

Zero is a number or measurement, while nothing is more general.

nil

Nil is used in sports scores and formal British contexts, while nothing is everyday.

nada

Nada is a slang borrowing from Spanish, more casual and humorous than nothing.

Opposites

Word family

nothingness noun

the state of not existing

anything pronoun

any single thing

something pronoun

a thing not specified

naught pronoun

old word for nothing

Commonly confused: nothing or none? nothing or no one?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “nothing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words