nowhere

1 of 3

adverb

no·​where ˈnō-ˌ(h)wer 

-(h)wər

1

: not in or at any place

The book is nowhere to be found.

2

: to no place

I've gotten nowhere with my research.

Arguing will get us nowhere.

3

: not at all : not to the least extent

—usually used with near

nowhere near as serious

nowhere near enough

nowhere

2 of 3

noun

1

: a nonexistent place

2

: an unknown, distant, or obscure place or state

rose to fame out of nowhere

nowhere

3 of 3

adjective

: of or relating to a remote or relatively unknown location

a nowhere town

Phrases

miles from nowhere

: in an extremely remote place

Synonyms

Noun

• boondocks
• boonies [slang]
• country
• countryside
• sticks

Examples of nowhere in a Sentence

Adverb

I have nowhere to go.

Nowhere is there more of a population problem than in this city.

Noun

from the looks of things, we're stranded in nowhere and most likely its proverbial middle

in a few short years he rose out of nowhere to prominence in the tech industry

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Dallas has gotten much better defense from Kyrie Irving and Doncic throughout the playoffs, but it will be tested relentlessly in this series and have nowhere to hide. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2024

But Larson got all suited up and had nowhere to go. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2024

Noun

The most enduring symbol of that series: Manu Ginobili at age 36, weaving his way through traffic in Game 5, giving a stiff-arm to 2013 tormentor Ray Allen before exploding for an out-of-nowhere dunk on Chris Bosh. —Jeff McDonald, ExpressNews.com, 18 May 2020

While the series has officially concluded, this comeback special fast forwards to an entirely new, out-of-nowhere plot point and is therefore easy to watch for novices. —Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 13 May 2020

Adjective

Wiley, Oregon is a nowhere kind of one-stoplight town. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2024

The days are getting longer, brighter, and warmer, and there’s nowhere workers want to be more on a summer’s afternoon than far away from their desks—and Kellogg’s knows it. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 7 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1889, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nowhere

• come out of nowhere
• flattery will get you nowhere
• from nowhere
• From out of nowhere
• get nowhere
• going/getting nowhere fast
• going nowhere fast
• go nowhere
• in the middle of nowhere
• is nowhere to be found
• lead nowhere
• middle of nowhere
• miles from nowhere
• nowhere near
• nowhere to be found
• out of nowhere

Kids Definition

nowhere

1 of 2 adverb

no·​where ˈnō-ˌhwe(ə)r 

-ˌwe(ə)r,

-ˌhwa(ə)r,

-ˌwa(ə)r,

-hwər,

-wər

1

: not in or at any place

2

: to no place

3

: not at all : not to the least extent

—usually used with near

nowhere near enough

nowhere

2 of 2 noun

: a place that does not exist

sounds seeming to come from nowhere