What does “not” mean?
- 1
adverbused to make a word, phrase or sentence negative
I’m not ready yet.
- 2
adverbused in short answers to give a negative reply
“Is it going to rain?” “I hope not.”
Not at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /nɑt/ · NAHT
How to use “not” correctly
With most verbs you need “do”: “I do not (don’t) like it,” not “I like not it.” In speech, “not” is usually shortened to “n’t.”
Common phrases with “not”
- not at all
- not yet
- not only… but also
- if not
Idioms with “not”
- It's not rocket science: It is not difficult to understand or do.
- Not your cup of tea: Not something you like or enjoy.
“not” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- also adverbA1in addition; as well
- how adverbA1used to ask about the way something is done or happens
- just adverbA1a very short time ago
- off adverbA1away from a place or position
- out adverbA1away from the inside of a place or container
- pretty adverbA1fairly or quite, but not extremely
- really adverbA1very or very much
- so adverbA1very or to such a great degree