Cool MateAbsolutely not vs Not at all vs Not even slightly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely not
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Not at all
Top 2,000 (common)
Not even slightly
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Not at all
| Absolutely not | Not at all | Not even slightly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɒt//🇺🇸 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɑːt// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //nɑt æt ɔl// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈiːvən ˈslaɪtli//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈivən ˈslaɪtli// |
| Meaning | Definitely not; strong refusal. | not even a little bit | Not at all; not even a little bit. |
| Example | Can we go swimming in this cold weather? Absolutely not! | I didn't like the movie, not at all. | I don't feel tired, not even slightly. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | say absolutely not, respond absolutely not, use absolutely not | not at all worried, not at all surprising, not at all offended | not even slightly interested, not even slightly worried, not even slightly tempted |
| Antonyms | - | at all, somewhat, partially | - |
| Common mistakes | Using it with a polite tone in formal situations., Confusing it with 'maybe' or 'possibly'. | Confusing with 'not really' which is less absolute., Using it in formal contexts where a less emphatic phrase is better., Omitting it when it's necessary for clarity. | Confused with 'not even close', which implies a degree of distance., Used in formal contexts, which may seem out of place., Misplaced in sentences, altering the intended emphasis. |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations to strongly disagree. Avoid in formal settings. | Use 'not at all' to emphasize complete disagreement or absence. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but less common in formal writing. | Use in informal conversations to emphasize a complete lack of something. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Absolutely not vs Not at all vs Not even slightly
What's the difference between Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not even slightly?
Absolutely not: Definitely not; strong refusal. Not at all: not even a little bit Not even slightly: Not at all; not even a little bit.
Which is more common: Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not even slightly?
Not at all is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Absolutely not: Can we go swimming in this cold weather? Absolutely not! Not at all: I didn't like the movie, not at all. Not even slightly: I don't feel tired, not even slightly.
Can I use Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not even slightly interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not even slightly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.