Not interested vs Not with me

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Not interested

InformalTop 2,000 (common)

Not with me

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Not with meMost common: Not interested
 Not interestedNot with me
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈɪntrəstɪd//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈɪntrəstɪd//🇬🇧 //nɒt wɪð miː//🇺🇸 //nɑt wɪð mi//
MeaningDon't want to know or be involved.A phrase indicating disagreement or refusal to participate.
ExampleWhen he asked if I wanted to join the club, I replied that I was not interested.Are you coming to the party? Not with me.
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationsclearly not interested, not interested at all, seem not interested, generally not interested, not interested innot with me on this, not with me anymore, not with me at all
Common mistakesUsing it in a formal conversation where politeness is needed., Confusing it with 'not interested in' when specifying a subject., Overusing it when a softer response is more appropriate.Using 'not for me' instead of 'not with me'., Confusing 'not with me' with 'not by me'.
Usage notesUsed in casual conversations to express disinterest. Avoid in formal situations. Can be blunt.Used to express that someone does not want to be involved in something. Common in casual conversations but can be appropriate in formal contexts.

See it in real clips

Not interested
Not with me

Frequently asked questions: Not interested vs Not with me

What's the difference between Not interested and Not with me?

Not interested: Don't want to know or be involved. Not with me: A phrase indicating disagreement or refusal to participate.

Which is more formal: Not interested and Not with me?

Not with me is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Not interested and Not with me?

Not interested is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Not interested: When he asked if I wanted to join the club, I replied that I was not interested. Not with me: Are you coming to the party? Not with me.

Can I use Not interested and Not with me interchangeably?

Not always. Not interested and Not with me 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.