- 1 used to give a negative reply or statement Just say yes or no. ‘Are you ready?’ ‘No, I'm not.’ Sorry, the answer's no. ‘Another drink?’ ‘No, thanks.’ It's about 70—no, I'm wrong—80 kilometres from Rome. No! Don't touch it! It's hot. ‘It was Tony.’ ‘No, you're wrong. It was Ted.’ ‘It's not very good, is it?’ ‘No, you're right, it isn't (= I agree).’
- 2 used to express shock or surprise at what somebody has said ‘She's had an accident.’ ‘Oh, no!’ ‘I'm leaving!’ ‘No!’ Word OriginOld English nō, nā (adverb), from ne ‘not’ + ō, ā ‘ever’. The determiner arose in Middle English (originally before words beginning with any consonant except h-), reduced from non, from Old English nān, from ne ‘not’ + ān ‘one’, of Germanic origin.Idioms
to refuse to accept that somebody does not want something, will not do something, etc. You're coming and I won't take no for an answer!
used when you cannot give a clear answer to a question ‘Are you enjoying it?’ ‘Yes and no.’
Check pronunciation: no
