Cool MateAbsolutely not vs Not at all vs Not with this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely not
Not at all
Not with this
| Absolutely not | Not at all | Not with this | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɒt//🇺🇸 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɑːt// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //nɑt æt ɔl// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt wɪð ðɪs//🇺🇸 //nɑt wɪð ðɪs// |
| Meaning | Definitely not; strong refusal. | not even a little bit | A phrase used to express disagreement or refusal. |
| Example | Can we go swimming in this cold weather? Absolutely not! | I didn't like the movie, not at all. | I can't attend the meeting today. Not with this headache. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral | Informal |
| 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 with this attitude, not with this plan, not with this team |
| 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. | Using it in formal contexts., Confusing it with 'not with me', which implies a personal exclusion., Misunderstanding its meaning as simply 'no'. |
| 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. | Used casually to emphasize unacceptability or lack of readiness. Avoid in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Absolutely not vs Not at all vs Not with this
What's the difference between Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not with this?
Absolutely not: Definitely not; strong refusal. Not at all: not even a little bit Not with this: A phrase used to express disagreement or refusal.
Which is more formal: Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not with this?
Not at all is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not with this?
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 with this: I can't attend the meeting today. Not with this headache.
Can I use Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not with this interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely not, Not at all, and Not with this 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.