Cool MateAbsolutely nothing vs Nothing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely nothing
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Nothing
Top 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
Most formal: NothingMost common: Nothing
| Absolutely nothing | Nothing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li ˈnʌθ.ɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li ˈnʌθɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnʌθɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnʌθɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not any amount or thing at all. | Not anything; no single thing. |
| Example | When I checked my bank account, I found absolutely nothing there. | I have nothing to say about the matter. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | |
| Collocations | absolutely nothing to do, absolutely nothing to worry about, absolutely nothing will change, absolutely nothing happened, absolutely nothing matters | nothing to worry about, nothing more, nothing new |
| Antonyms | - | something, everything |
| Common mistakes | 'Nothing' used instead of 'absolutely nothing' for emphasis., Misplaced stress on 'nothing' instead of 'absolutely'., Using in overly formal contexts where lighter phrases work better. | Confused with 'anything' in negative sentences., Used with a plural verb (e.g., 'nothing are')., Incorrectly used in affirmative sentences (e.g., 'I have nothing to do'). |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize a complete lack of something. More common in casual conversations rather than formal writing. | Used commonly in both spoken and written English. Can express absence or lack. Avoid using in formal contexts where more specific words may be required. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Absolutely nothing vs Nothing
What's the difference between Absolutely nothing and Nothing?
Absolutely nothing: Not any amount or thing at all. Nothing: Not anything; no single thing.
Which is more formal: Absolutely nothing and Nothing?
Nothing is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Absolutely nothing and Nothing?
Nothing is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Absolutely nothing: When I checked my bank account, I found absolutely nothing there. Nothing: I have nothing to say about the matter.
Can I use Absolutely nothing and Nothing interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely nothing and Nothing 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.