WordGarden.ionowhere
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈəʊweə/
US
- /ˈnoʊˌwɛr/
Meanings
Adverb
in, at, or to no place
to no useful result or progress
Beyond the definition
"Nowhere" means not in any place or not to any place. You can use it for something literal, like saying your keys are "nowhere to be found." You can also use it in a wider, more human way. If someone says they are going "nowhere in life," they mean they are not making progress or moving toward a goal. Think of Alice falling down the rabbit hole for a while and feeling far from any place she knows.
The word can sound dramatic, playful, or sad depending on the sentence. "Without you, I'm nowhere" gives it a strong emotional feeling, while "I have nowhere to be but here" sounds lighter and more relaxed.
"Nowhere" is a useful word because it can talk about place in a very direct way and also stretch into more abstract situations. At its most basic, it means not in any place or not to any place at all. If you look for your phone and it is "nowhere," you mean you cannot find it anywhere. If a road leads nowhere, it does not lead to a useful or known destination.
From there, the word often moves into figurative use. Someone might say, "I'm going nowhere with this job," meaning they are making no progress. In this kind of sentence, the idea of place becomes the idea of movement, growth, or purpose. That emotional force does not come from the word alone in every case, but it often appears through the context around it.
"Nowhere" also shows up in expressions that highlight absence or lack of options. "Nowhere to hide," "nowhere to sit," and "nowhere to go" all mean there is no available place for that action. In storytelling, it can add mood very quickly: a person from "the middle of nowhere" seems far away from cities or busy life, while a person who feels "nowhere" in a social group may feel invisible or out of place.
So the word can describe a missing location, a lack of destination, or a sense of making no progress. It is simple on the surface, but in real use it can sound practical, dramatic, lonely, or even playful, depending on the sentence.
Examples
- 1
Parking
There was nowhere to park near the station.
- 2
Missing pet
After the storm, the cat was nowhere to be found.
- Phrasenowhere to be found
impossible to find
- 3
Lack of space
You can leave your coat here; there’s nowhere else to put it.
- 4
Remote place
The village is in the middle of nowhere, so you need a car.
- Phrasein the middle of nowhere
far from towns or other places
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sudden appearance
A cyclist appeared out of nowhere and crossed the road.
- Phraseout of nowhere
suddenly and unexpectedly
- 6
No progress
We argued for an hour but got nowhere.
- Phraseget nowhere
make no progress
- 7
Physical distance
The hotel looked expensive, but it was nowhere near the beach.
- Phrasenowhere near
not close to
- 8
Completion
The project is nowhere near finished.
- Patternnowhere near + adjective/past participle
far from that state
- 9
Formal emphasis
Nowhere in the report does it mention the missing money.
See also
Similar
- not anywhere
- no place
- in no place
Shades of meaning
- not to be found
- absent
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- nowhere to go
- nowhere to be found
- out of nowhere
- in the middle of nowhere
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- nowhereadverbnoun