Etimology
From Middle English nothyng, noon thing, non thing, na þing, nan thing, nan þing, from Old English nāþing, nān þing (“nothing”, literally “not any thing”), equivalent to no + thing. Compare Old English nāwiht (“nothing”, literally “no thing”), Swedish ingenting (“nothing”, literally “not any thing, no thing”).
pronoun
nothing (indefinite pronoun)
Not any thing; no thing.
An absence of anything, including empty space, brightness, darkness, matter, or a vacuum.
Examples
the players see little or nothing of their cards at first starting
Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.
Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.
Related words
synonyms
(not any thing):(standard): not a thing, naught(slang): jack, nada, zip, zippo, zilch, squat, nix(vulgar slang): bugger all, jack shit, sod all (British), fuck all, dick(Northern English dialect): nowt
(standard): not a thing, naught
(slang): jack, nada, zip, zippo, zilch, squat, nix
(vulgar slang): bugger all, jack shit, sod all (British), fuck all, dick
(Northern English dialect): nowt
antonyms
anything
everything
something
noun
nothing (countable and uncountable, plural nothings)
Something trifling, or of no consequence or importance.
A trivial remark especially in the term sweet nothings.
A nobody (insignificant person).
Examples
- What happened to your face?- It's nothing.
Sermons are not like curious inquiries after new nothings, but pursuances of old truths.
Knuckles: The Egg Carrier is nothing compared to this!
adverb
nothing (not comparable)
(archaic) Not at all; in no way.
Examples
The answer was an impatient one—but, nothing daunted, he continued.
The Motion from London to Syria is as much as nothing; and nothing altereth the relation which is between them.
adjective
nothing (not comparable)
Completely unimportant.
Examples
Dallas scored on what had seemed until then like a nothing play.
interjection
nothing
Never mind; it's not important; forget what I said.