nothing
gb/nˈʌθɪŋ/ us/nˈʌθɪŋ/
A1
English
~ 300
Senses
0 senses
pronoun
A1
relation
1
not anything; no thing
No thing; not anything at all.
Usage pattern:
[subject] is nothing
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'nothing' with 'anything'. In negative sentences, 'nothing' replaces 'not...anything'. For example, 'I have nothing' is correct, not 'I don't have nothing'.
Synonyms
nil (More formal or technical, often used in sports or statistics.)
|
zero (Refers specifically to the number 0; can be figurative for 'nothing'.)
Antonyms
something (Refers to an unspecified thing, opposite of 'nothing'.)
Collocations
nothing at all
|absolutely nothing
|mean nothing
|for nothing
|nothing much
Themes
daily life
|logic
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There’s nothing in the fridge for dinner.
- She said nothing during the meeting.
- Nothing can stop us now.
- He has nothing to do this weekend.
- It means nothing to me.
Learner examples
- There is nothing in my bag.
- I have nothing to eat.
- He said nothing to me.
- She has nothing to wear.
- We did nothing yesterday.
Noun
B1
state
2
state of having no existence
The state of having no things or not existing at all.
Usage pattern:
the [state] of nothing
Synonyms
nonexistence (Formal term for the state of not existing.)
Antonyms
being (The state of existence, opposite of 'nothing'.)
Collocations
come to nothing
|turn into nothing
|from nothing
Themes
philosophy
|logic
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Philosophers have long debated whether true nothing exists.
- From nothing came everything, according to the myth.
- His efforts amounted to nothing.
Learner examples
- The box was full of nothing.
- He started with nothing and built a company.
- Her work was for nothing.
pronoun
informal
A2
entity
3
something unimportant or trivial
Something that is not important.
Usage pattern:
[subject] is nothing compared to [something]
Synonyms
triviality (More formal, refers to something insignificant.)
Antonyms
importance (Significance or value, opposite of 'nothing' in this sense.)
Collocations
it's nothing
|think nothing of it
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious.
- Their argument was over nothing.
- Compared to last year’s problems, this is nothing.
Learner examples
- It’s nothing. Don’t worry.
- The fight was about nothing.
- This problem is nothing compared to yours.
Grammar
Dictionary form
nothing
IPA
GB/nˈʌθɪŋ/
US/nˈʌθɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
noth - ing (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (noth)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: nothing
- Plural: nothings
Word family
Forms
nothings
noun
Related words
Advanced or less common
nothingness
noun
Expressions
for nothing
1/fɚ nˈʌθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
without payment or result
Without paying; or without getting any result.
Examples
- He fixed my car for nothing because we’re friends.
- I studied all night for nothing — the test was canceled.
make something out of nothing
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈaʊt əv nˈʌθɪŋ/
idiom
create from no resources or basis
To create something when you have almost no resources or reason.
Examples
- She made a successful business out of nothing.
- Don’t make a problem out of nothing.
next to nothing
1/nˈɛkst tə nˈʌθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
almost no amount or value
Almost no amount; very little.
Examples
- He bought the car for next to nothing.
- I know next to nothing about computers.
stop at nothing
1/stˈɑp ˈæt nˈʌθɪŋ/
idiom
do anything necessary to succeed
To be willing to do anything to get what you want.
Examples
- She will stop at nothing to win the competition.
- They stopped at nothing to protect their family.
nothing but
1/nˈʌθɪŋ bˈʌt/
fixed phrase
only that; no more or less
Only that thing and not anything else.
Examples
- He talks about nothing but football.
- It was nothing but a joke.
- They did nothing but argue all day.
- She eats nothing but vegetables.