nev‧er S1 W1 / nevə $ -ər / 副词

1 not at any time, or not once :

He’s never been to Australia.

I’m never going back there again, not as long as I live.

It is never too late to give up smoking.

never had/did/was etc

Never had she been so confused.

never ever (= used to emphasize what you are saying )

I’ll never ever forgive him for leaving me.

Never again (= never after a particular time ) would he return to Naples.

never in all my life (= used to emphasize how bad something was )

Never in all my life have I felt so humiliated.

never for one moment (= used to emphasize that you never thought something )

She had never for one moment imagined that it could happen to her.

somebody/something has never been known to do something (= used to say that something is strange because it has never happened before )

Max had never been known to leave home without telling anyone.

Grammar

Do not use another negative word (eg ’not’) with never . If you use ’not’, use ever :

She might never forgive you OR She might not ever forgive you (NOT She might not never forgive you).

2 you never know spoken used to say that something which seems unlikely may happen :

Try it! You never know, you might be lucky.

3 I never knew (that) spoken used to mean that you did not know something until now :

I never knew you played the guitar!

4 never so much as used to emphasize that someone did not do something, especially when this seems surprising :

I do everything for him, and he’s never so much as made me a cup of coffee.

5 that would/will never do spoken used to say that you would not want something to happen :

Someone might discover our secret and that would never do.

6 never! British English spoken used when you are very surprised by something :

‘They’re getting married next month.’ ‘Never!’

He’s never going to cycle all the way to Manchester!

Well I never! I wouldn’t have thought she was that old!

7 (no) I never! British English spoken used to say that you did not do something bad that someone has said you did. Many teachers think this is not correct English :

‘You cheated, didn’t you?’ ‘No, I never.’

8 never say never informal used to say that you should not say that you will never do something, because there is always a small possibility that you might do it

9 never say die used to encourage someone not to give up

10 never fear spoken old-fashioned used to tell someone not to worry :

She’ll be back, never fear.

→ never the twain shall meet at twain ( 2 )

THESAURUS

never not at any time, or not once : Ali had never seen snow before. | I’ll never forget that day.

never ever spoken used to emphasize that you mean never : Do you promise never ever to tell anyone else about this?

not once used to emphasize that you are surprised or annoyed because someone never did something : She’s never said thank you – not once. | Jo hasn’t emailed me once in six months.

not/never for a moment used to emphasize that you never had a particular thought or idea : ‘Did you ever suspect he was cheating on you?’ ‘No, not for a moment.’ | Not for one moment did she think it was a trap.

not/never in a million years spoken used to say that it is completely impossible that something could ever happen : Dad will never agree to that – not in a million years!

at no time formal used to emphasize that something never happened : At no time did anyone suggest that the drug was dangerous. | At no time were the prisoners mistreated.