nothing
nothing
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "nothing" is:
ˈnʌθɪŋ
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
nʌθ
/n/: voiced alveolar nasal consonant
/ʌ/: mid central vowel
/θ/: voiceless dental fricative
ɪŋ
/ɪ/: near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/: velar nasal consonant
Word Form Variations
The word "nothing" does not have different word forms for singular and plural. It remains "nothing" in all contexts.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A state of nonexistence or absence of anything.
Synonyms: nil, naught, zero, void, vacancy
Antonyms: something, anything, everything
Pronoun
Definition: No one or no thing.
Synonyms: nobody, no one
Antonyms: somebody, someone, anybody, anyone
Adverb
Definition: To no extent or degree.
Synonyms: not at all, in no way
Antonyms: very much, extremely
Examples of Use
Literature:
Shakespeare's "Hamlet": "To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation2 Devoutly to be wished'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep:3 perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this4 mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life;"5 (Shakespeare, William. Hamlet.)
Newspapers:
The New York Times: "The president said there was nothing to hide." (The New York Times, any recent article)
Online Publications:
Wikipedia: "Nothing is something that does not exist." (Wikipedia, "Nothing")
Entertainment:
Movies: In the movie "The Matrix," the character Morpheus says, "What is real? How do you define 'real'? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain."6 (The Matrix, 1999)
Music: The song "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor is a popular example of the word used in a song title.
General Public Discourse:
Everyday conversation: "I have nothing to wear."
Formal speeches: "We must not let this tragedy be for nothing."
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Nothing
"Nothing will work unless you do." — Maya Angelou
"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" — Audrey Hepburn
"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within." — Maya Angelou
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." — Muhammad Ali
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"A wise man knows that he knows nothing." — Socrates
"Nothing happens until something moves." — Albert Einstein
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." — Edmund Burke
"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Nothing worth having comes easy." — Theodore Roosevelt
Etymology
The word "nothing" is actually quite old! It comes from the Old English word "nāþing," which literally means "not a thing." So, way back in the day, people were already thinking about the idea of something not existing.
The first known use of "nothing" in its current form was around the 9th century. It's been used in all sorts of ways since then, from philosophical discussions about existence to everyday conversations.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Nothing
Here are some common phrases and idioms using "nothing" or its synonyms:
Nothing but: Only
Example: "The report was nothing but a waste of time."
Next to nothing: Almost nothing
Example: "They sold the house for next to nothing."
For nothing: Without payment or reward
Example: "We worked for nothing."
Nothing ventured, nothing gained: You have to take risks to achieve something.
Nothing to write home about: Not particularly exciting or impressive.
Nothing personal: It's not about you, it's about the situation.
To come to nothing: To fail or have no result
Example: "All our efforts came to nothing."
To make nothing of something: To ignore or dismiss something
Example: "He made nothing of the insult."
Since "nothing" is a very common word, it's difficult to find many highly specific idioms or phrases that are exclusively tied to it. However, the above examples illustrate its versatility in everyday language.
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Source Information
Definition of nothing from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
