no way

/ˌnoʊ ˈweɪ/
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A forceful informal refusal or reaction of disbelief.

Examples

  • There's no way he finished all that work alone.
  • There is no way we're cancelling the trip now.
  • When they asked me to cheat, I said no way.
  • You want me to jump from there? No way.
  • No way, I'm not lending him my car.

Similar words

absolutely not
forget it
over my dead body
not a chancenot a chance
impossible
you must be joking
I don't believe it

Meanings

Strong refusal

social
informal
A firm and informal way to refuse something or say that it will not happen.

Examples

  • No way, I'm not lending him my car.
  • When they asked me to cheat, I said no way.
  • No way will I apologize for telling the truth.
  • You want me to jump from there? No way.
  • There is no way we're cancelling the trip now.

Similar words

Disbelief or emphatic impossibility

conversation
informal
An informal reaction of strong surprise or disbelief, also used to emphasize that something is impossible or cannot be true.

Examples

  • No way! You actually met her?
  • There's no way he finished all that work alone.
  • She said the painting was original, but no way.
  • No way can this tiny box hold everything.
  • They won the final? No way!

Similar words

Etymology

A transparent combination of no and way. It grew from the literal idea that no path or possibility exists into an emphatic refusal and a surprised reaction.

FAQ

What does no way mean?

No way is an informal expression of strong refusal, disbelief, or impossibility.

Is no way rude?

It can sound blunt when refusing a person, so a softer expression may suit polite or formal situations.

Can no way show surprise?

Yes. Said as a reaction, no way can mean that news is astonishing or hard to believe.

What does ‘there is no way’ mean?

It strongly emphasizes that something is impossible or cannot happen.

Can no way begin a sentence?

Yes. ‘No way will I agree’ is an emphatic construction with the verb placed before the subject.

Is no way formal?

No. It belongs mainly to informal speech and casual writing.

What is a softer alternative to no way?

Depending on the situation, ‘I don't think so’ or ‘I'm afraid I can't’ is softer.

How is no way pronounced?

In General American English, no way is pronounced /ˌnoʊ ˈweɪ/.

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