never

adverb

1 NOT AT ANY TIME not once or not at any time: We've never been to Paris. | I'll never forget what my mother said. | never...again: Never let me hear you use that word again! | never in all my life spoken (=used to emphasize how bad something was): Never in all my life have I felt so humiliated. | never ever spoken (=used to emphasize `never'): I'll never ever forgive him for leaving me | never once spoken (=used when you are annoyed because someone never did something although they had many opportunities): Never once did she offer to look after the children. | never for one moment especially spoken (=used to emphasize that you never thought, imagined, or doubted something): Never for one moment did I think that we were going to encounter so many problems. | sb/sth has never been known to do something (=used to mean that something is strange because it has never happened before): Max had never been known to leave home without telling someone.

2 never mind spoken used to tell someone that something is not important or serious, so that there is no need to worry or feel sorry: “We've missed the train.” “Never mind, there's another one in ten minutes.”

3 never you mind spoken used to tell someone not to ask questions about something because you do not want to tell them about it: “What were you talking about just now?” “Never you mind.”

4 you never know spoken used to say that something which seems unlikely may happen: Try it! You never know, you might be lucky.

5 that would never do spoken used to say that you would not want something to happen: Someone might discover our secret and that would never do.

6 I never knew (that) spoken used to mean that you did not know something until now: I never knew Texas was so big. | I've just learned something I never knew before.

7 well, I never (did)! spoken used to say that you are very surprised: Well, I never! I wouldn't have thought she was that old.

8 never! BrE spoken used when you are surprised by something, because you think it is not possible: He's never going to cycle all the way to Manchester! | Never! I don't believe it!

9 never so much as not even: The thought that Laura might be having an affair had never so much as crossed his mind.

10 no I never! BrE spoken used by a child to say that they did not do something bad when someone else is saying that they did: “You cheated, didn't you?” “No, I never.”

11 never fear old-fashioned used to tell someone not to worry: She'll be back, never fear.

12 never say die used to encourage someone when they are losing hope