# not

/ˈnɑt/ (US) · /nˈɒt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/not
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. negation

adverb · CEFR A1

you use this to make a word or sentence negative.

For teachers: the primary particle used to negate the meaning of a modified verb, adjective, or adverb.

- She is not coming to the party tonight because she is tired.
- The results were not as conclusive as the researchers had initially hoped, necessitating a second round of testing.

Usage: usually follows an auxiliary verb or 'be'; contracted to n't in informal speech.

### 2. opposite or understatement

adverb · CEFR B1

used to show the opposite of something, often to be polite or less direct.

For teachers: used to indicate the opposite or near-opposite of a quality, often functioning as a form of litotes or understatement.

- The food was not bad, but it was a bit expensive.
- It was not the most professional response, though it certainly addressed the client's immediate concerns.

Teaching tip: Common in phrases like 'not bad' or 'not exactly' to soften a statement.

### 3. sarcasm

interjection · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

used at the end of a sentence to show you were joking or being sarcastic.

For teachers: used as a post-positioned particle to signal that the preceding statement was intended ironically or sarcastically.

- I really love doing extra homework on a Friday night... not.
- Oh sure, I'd love to spend my entire weekend filing these papers... not.

Usage: placed at the very end of a sentence after a brief pause.

Teaching tip: This usage was very popular in the 1990s; it is still understood but can feel slightly dated to younger speakers.

### 4. logical operator

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a rule in math or computers that changes 'true' to 'false'.

For teachers: a unary operator that performs logical negation, inverting the truth value of its operand.

- The computer uses a NOT gate to flip the signal from on to off.
- The algorithm applies a NOT operation to the boolean variable to ensure the loop terminates correctly.

Usage: often written in all capitals (NOT) in programming and logic contexts.

## Examples

- I do not like cold weather.
- The manager decided not to hire any more staff until the company's profits improved next quarter.
- Whether or not the policy succeeds depends less on the initial investment and more on the long-term commitment of the local community leaders.

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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.