never
"Never" is a powerful little adverb with a clear core meaning — but it shows up in a surprising range of situations. It has a couple of closely related senses that are worth understanding separately, so you can use it with confidence.
Sometimes 'never' is used to strongly refuse or deny something — not just about time, but as a firm 'no'. When someone says 'Never!', they mean they completely reject the idea. It carries a lot of emotion.
everyday language · Modern, widely used · figurative
She said she would never agree to those conditions.
Never in my life have I been so embarrassed!
In British English especially, people sometimes say 'Never!' to mean 'I can't believe it!' or 'Really?'. It expresses shock or disbelief, not a refusal. You might hear this in conversation when someone shares surprising news.
everyday conversation (especially British English) · Modern, informal · figurative