Cool MateAbsolutely not vs Not even slightly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely not
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Not even slightly
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Not even slightlyMost common: Absolutely not
| Absolutely not | Not even slightly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɒt//🇺🇸 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɑːt// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈiːvən ˈslaɪtli//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈivən ˈslaɪtli// |
| Meaning | Definitely not; strong refusal. | Not at all; not even a little bit. |
| Example | Can we go swimming in this cold weather? Absolutely not! | I don't feel tired, not even slightly. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | say absolutely not, respond absolutely not, use absolutely not | not even slightly interested, not even slightly worried, not even slightly tempted |
| Common mistakes | Using it with a polite tone in formal situations., Confusing it with 'maybe' or 'possibly'. | 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 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 even slightly
What's the difference between Absolutely not and Not even slightly?
Absolutely not: Definitely not; strong refusal. Not even slightly: Not at all; not even a little bit.
Which is more formal: Absolutely not and Not even slightly?
Not even slightly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Absolutely not and Not even slightly?
Absolutely not 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 even slightly: I don't feel tired, not even slightly.
Can I use Absolutely not and Not even slightly interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely not 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.