ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ne'er

adj. freq.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈnɪɹ// neer

adj. a short way of saying 'never'. You mostly see this in old poems or songs.

adj. a contraction of 'never', used primarily in poetic or literary contexts to maintain meter.


SIMPLE

He will ne'er return to his home again.

CONTEXTUAL

The old ballad tells the story of a sailor who promised he would ne'er forget his true love.

COMPLEX

Though the winds howl and the seas rise, the captain swore that he would ne'er abandon his post until every passenger was safe.

Synonyms
Origin

Contraction of never.

Usage

A contraction of 'never' used in verse; typically precedes the verb it modifies.

© 2026 English Reference