nev·er
(nĕv′ər)adv.1. Not ever; on no occasion; at no time: He had never been there before. You never can be sure.
2. Not at all; in no way; absolutely not: Never fear. That will never do.
Idiom: never mind1. Don't bother: I was hoping for some help, but never mind, I'll do it alone.
2. Not to mention; and certainly not: I can't tread water, never mind swim.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
never
(ˈnɛvə) adv,
sentence substitute1. at no time; not ever
2. certainly not; by no means; in no case
interj Also: well I never! surely not!
[Old English nǣfre, from ne not + æfre ever]
Usage: In informal speech and writing, never can be used instead of not with the simple past tenses of certain verbs for emphasis (I never said that; I never realized how clever he was), but this usage should be avoided in serious writing
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
nev•er
(ˈnɛv ər)
adv. 1. not ever: It never happened.
2. not at all; absolutely not: This will never do.
3. to no extent or degree: He was never the wiser.
Idioms: never mind, don't bother; don't concern yourself.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English
nǣfre=
ne not +
ǣfre ever]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
never
1. usesYou use never to say that something did not, does not, or will not happen at any time.
She never asked him to lend her any money.
I will never give up.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'do' in front of never. Don't say, for example, 'He does never write to me'. Say 'He never writes to me'.
He never complains.
He never speaks to you, does he?
Be Careful!
You don't usually use another negative word with 'never'. Don't say, for example, 'I haven't never been there' or 'They never said nothing'. Say 'I have never been there' or 'They never said anything'.
It was an experience I will never forget.
I've never seen anything like it.
Be Careful!
Similarly, don't use 'never' if the subject of a clause is a negative word such as nothing or no one. Instead use ever. You say, for example, 'Nothing will ever happen'. Don't say 'Nothing will never happen'.
Nothing ever changes.
No one will ever know.
2. position in clauseIf you are not using an auxiliary verb or modal, you put never in front of the verb, unless the verb is be.
He never allowed himself to lose control.
They never take risks.
- If the verb is be, you usually put never after it.
The road by the river was never quiet.
- If you are using an auxiliary verb or modal, you put never after it.
I have never known a year quite like this.
My husband says he will never retire.
- If you are using more than one auxiliary verb or modal, you put never after the first one.
He said he had never been arrested.
The answer to this question might never be known.
- If you are using an auxiliary verb on its own, you put never in front of it.
I do not want to marry you. I never did. I never will.
- In stories, never is sometimes put first for emphasis, followed by an auxiliary verb and the subject of the clause.
Never had Dixon been so glad to see Margaret.
Never had two hours gone so slowly.
3. 'never' with an imperativeYou can use never with an imperative instead of 'do not'. You do this when you want to emphasize that something should not be done at any time.
Never attempt to do this without a safety net.
Never use your credit card as personal identification.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012