nil

IPA/nɪl/
KK[nˈɪl]IPA/nɪl/

nil — noun

1. the figure zero, used in sports results to show that no points were scored, or m

1.名詞A2
釋義

the figure zero, used in sports results to show that no points were scored, or more generally to mean that there is not any amount of something at all.

例句

The match ended with a score of three–nil in favour of the home team.

score of three–nil: typical sports score format

Sophia's hope of finding her lost ring was near nil, though she kept searching.

同義詞
  • zero

    the standard word for the number 0 in most contexts; 'nil' is more common in sports and formal reports

  • nothing

    general term for absence of anything; less technical than 'nil'

  • nought

    chiefly British English, used in mathematics and for the digit 0

  • zilch

    informal slang for nothing; much less formal than 'nil'

反義詞
  • some

    an unspecified positive amount

  • many

    a large positive number

用法筆記

Common in British English for sports scores (e.g. 'two–nil'). In American English, 'zero' or 'nothing' is more frequent, though 'nil' is still understood.

常見錯誤

❌The temperature fell to nil last night.
✅The temperature fell to zero last night.
💡'nil' is not used for temperature measurements; use 'zero' instead.
❌There were nil apples left.
✅There were no apples left.' or 'The number of apples left was nil.
💡'nil' is not used as a determiner before countable nouns; use 'no' or rephrase.