The meaning of NOT is —used as a function word to make negative a group of words or a word. How to use not in a sentence.

Not definition: (used to express negation, denial, refusal, or prohibition).. See examples of NOT used in a sentence.

Not is one of the most common words we use to indicate negation. It is often shortened to n’t and joined to an auxiliary verb or modal verb: …

In conversation, when not is used after be, have, do, or a modal, it is not usually pronounced in full. When you write down what someone says, you usually represent not as n't and add it to …

Not is a powerful word. When Hamlet says "to be or not to be," he is questioning whether he should live or die, the inverse of living. Just be careful of what's called a "double negative," …

Not is often shortened to n't in spoken English, and added to the auxiliary or modal verb. For example, 'did not' is often shortened to 'didn't'.

Jun 9, 2025 · In this case not cannot appear after the verb; some authorities recommend placing it before to to avoid a split infinitive, but for most speakers the forms not to do and to not do are …

used to state that you are not suggesting something. She hasn't written—not that she said she would.

Not or NOT may also refer to: ... Not!, a grammatical construction used as a contradiction, popularized in the early 1990s. Negation, a unary operator in logic depicted as ~, ¬, or !

not - Guide to English Usage: correct grammar and usage explained with examples and forums for your questions.