# no

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/no
Updated: 2026-07-09

## Senses

### 1. not any

determiner · CEFR A1

used to say there is zero of something or not even one.

For teachers: used as a quantifier to indicate the total absence of the thing mentioned.

- There is no milk left in the fridge, so I need to buy some.
- The investigation found no evidence of criminal intent, leading the prosecutor to drop all charges against the defendant.

### 2. to say something is not true

particle · CEFR A1

you use this to answer a question when the answer is not 'yes'.

For teachers: a response particle used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal.

- "Are you tired?" "No, I feel quite energetic actually."
- When asked if he would accept the promotion, he simply said no, citing a desire to maintain his current work-life balance.

### 3. a negative answer or vote

noun · CEFR B1

a 'no' answer or a vote against something.

For teachers: a negative response or a vote cast against a motion or proposition.

- The final result of the vote was ten yeses and five nos.
- The proposal was met with a firm no from the board of directors, who felt the financial risks were too high.

### 4. not at all

adverb · CEFR B1

used before a word like 'better' or 'more' to mean 'not at all'.

For teachers: used as a modifier for comparative adjectives or adverbs to indicate zero degree of difference.

- I feel no better today than I did yesterday.
- The second edition of the textbook is no different from the first, despite the publisher's claims of significant updates.

## Examples

- There is no milk left in the fridge.
- The sign clearly stated that there was no parking allowed on this street during the weekend.
- Despite the extensive search conducted by the local authorities, no evidence was found to suggest that a crime had taken place in the abandoned building.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.