adverb / interjection
never
NEV-er/ˈnevər/
Not at any time.
This gate never opens to let anyone pass through.
Etymology
The combination of “not” and “at any time” rules out every occasion, rather than just the present one. It also supplied an emphatic negative, still heard in “never mind.”
In context
you should always smoke a cigar given to you whether good or bad and never make any remarks on its quality
More examples
- I never drink coffee before bed.
- She has never seen snow before.
- "Would you betray your friends?" "Never!"
Similar words
- not ever
- Expresses the same meaning, often with stronger conversational emphasis.
- at no time
- More formal wording, often used in rules or official statements.