not at all
idiom
—sometimes used as a polite response after an expression of appreciation or thanks
"Thank you for all your trouble." "Not at all."
"That was very kind of you." "Not at all. It was the least I could do."
Examples of not at all in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Federal officials are encouraging Americans to drink more dairy milk under new dietary guidelines, but not all milk is the same — some has more fat and some is processed differently or not at all.
—
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Rubio insisted in a series of appearances that the situations were not at all the same.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
In this model, policymakers adjust course—sometimes modestly, sometimes not at all—while workers, small-business owners, jobseekers, and caregivers are expected to weather the turbulence.
—Gene Ludwig, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Many are facing the hard decision of whether to rebuild and return, or not at all.
—City News Service, Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for not at all
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Not at all.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20at%20all. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
