nothing
/ˈnʌθɪŋ/pronoun★Beginner— not anything
general
not anything; zero or no amount of something
There is nothing in the box.
The box is empty.
He did nothing wrong.
He did not do anything that was incorrect or harmful.
💡
Often used to emphasize the absence of something.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Emphasis
Use 'nothing' to emphasize the absence of something, often in negative sentences.
⚡Gold Rule
Grammar
'Nothing' is a pronoun and can replace 'not anything' in sentences.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'noughtyng,' from Old English 'nāwiht,' meaning 'not a thing.'
📝Usage Notes
Can be used as a pronoun or an adjective. Often used for emphasis or to indicate absence.
Word Breakdown
not
negation
prefixthing
object or concept
rootEnglish Dictionary