Zero — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈzir-(ˌ)ō/ ze·ro

Meaning & Definition of Zero

Zero (noun)

  1. the arithmetical symbol 0 or [SYMBOL] denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity
  2. additive identity; specifically, the number between the set of all negative numbers and the set of all positive numbers
  3. a value of an independent variable that makes a function equal to zero

Zero (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or being a zero
  2. having no magnitude or quantity, not any
  3. having no phonetic manifestation

Zero (verb)

  1. to determine or adjust the zero of
  2. to concentrate firepower on the exact range of —usually used with in
  3. to bring to bear on the exact range of a target —usually used with in

Zero (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it

    "anything multiplied by zero comes out to zero"

    similar: aught, cipher, goose egg, naught, nil, nothing, o, oh, zilch, zip
    related: blank, void

  2. a person of no importance or influence

    "those snobs on the cruise ship tried to make me feel like a complete zero"

    similar: cipher, dwarf, half-pint, insect, insignificancy, lightweight, morsel, nobody, nonentity, nothing, nullity, number, pip-squeak, pygmy, snippersnapper, twerp, whippersnapper, zilch
    related: no-name, noncelebrity, least, inferior, mediocrity, obscurity, figurehead, puppet, nonperson, unperson, outcast, pariah, reject
    opposite: big shot, big wheel, bigwig, eminence, figure, kahuna, kingpin, magnate, nabob, personage, somebody, VIP
    near: chief, head, lead, leader, celebrity, luminary, notable, personality, planet, star, superstar, authority, superior, great power, party, power

  3. the lowest point or level

    "after several dating disasters, my confidence with the opposite sex is at zero"

    similar: bedrock, bottom, depth, nadir, rock bottom
    related: abyss, armpit, pit
    opposite: acme, apex, climax, crown, culmination, head, height, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith
    near: bloom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, crescendo, high, cap, ceiling, crest, roof

Related Entry: Zero hour (noun)

Zero hour is a different word from Zero. The synonyms below are for zero hour, not for zero.

  1. a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action

    "we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision"

    similar: boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, emergency, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, moment of truth, point of no return
    related: contingency, possibility, climax, turning point, happening, landmark, milestone, condition, pass, situation, strait, deadlock, impasse, stalemate, corner, fix, hole, hot water, jam, last ditch, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot, eleventh hour, last minute

Related Entry: Zero (in on) (verb)

Zero (in on) is a different word from Zero. The synonyms below are for zero (in on), not for zero.

  1. as in hone in (on), home (in on)

    similar: aim, direct, home (in on), hone in (on), level, nail, point, set, center, concentrate, fasten, focus, rivet, train, attend, heed, mind, fixate (on), obsess (over), refocus

  2. as in focus (on), concentrate (on)

    similar: buckle (down to), concentrate (on), focus (on), knuckle down (to), address, approach, face, fall (to), pitch in, plunge (in), settle (down), attack, dive (into), tackle, wade (in or into), pursue, take up, undertake
    opposite: avoid, evade, shun, dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool, idle, lag, mess, monkey (around), play, poke, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Related Entry: Zero hours (noun)

Zero hours is a different word from Zero. The synonyms below are for zero hours, not for zero.

  1. a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action

    "we're at the zero hour, so someone has to make a decision"

    similar: boiling points, breaking points, clutches, conjunctures, crises, crossroads, crunches, crunch times, Dunkirks, emergencies, exigencies, extremities, flash points, heads, junctures, tinderboxes, moments of truth, points of no return
    related: contingencies, possibilities, climaxes, turning points, happenings, landmarks, milestones, conditions, passes, situations, straits, deadlocks, impasses, stalemates, corners, fixes, holes, hot waters, jams, last ditches, pinches, predicaments, scrapes, spots, eleventh hours, last minutes

Related Entry: Ground zero (noun)

Ground zero is a different word from Zero. The synonyms below are for ground zero, not for zero.

  1. a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest

    "a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry"

    similar: axis, base, capital, center, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, focus, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nexus, nucleus, omphalos, seat, where it's at
    related: headquarters, happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland, kernel, nub, pith, deep, thick, essence, quintessence, soul, attraction, lodestone, magnet, polestar

Related Entry: Subzero (adjective)

Subzero is a different word from Zero. The synonyms below are for subzero, not for zero.

  1. below zero degrees

    "subzero temperatures"

    similar: cryogenic, subfreezing, ultracold, algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, cold, coldish, cool, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, gelid, glacial, ice-cold, icy, nipping, nippy, numbing, polar, shivery, snappy, wintry, cutting, keen, penetrating, piercing, sharp, bracing, brisk, crisp, invigorating, rigorous, chilled, cooled, frosted, frozen, iced, refrigerated, unheated
    opposite: lukewarm, tepid, heated, overheated, reheated, warmed, snug, toasty, warm, feverish, flushed, inflamed, canicular, equatorial, muggy, steamy, summery, tropical, ardent, blazing, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, glowing, hot, igneous, molten, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, seething, sizzling, sultry, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, warming, white-hot

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Zero

The most common words with a similar meaning to Zero:

aught, cipher, goose egg, naught, nil, nothing, o, oh, zilch, zip, dwarf, half-pint, insect, insignificancy, lightweight, morsel, nobody, nonentity, nullity, number, pip-squeak, pygmy, snippersnapper, twerp, whippersnapper, bedrock, bottom, depth, nadir, rock bottom

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Zero

Words with the opposite meaning of Zero:

big shot, big wheel, bigwig, eminence, figure, kahuna, kingpin, magnate, nabob, personage, somebody, VIP, acme, apex, climax, crown, culmination, head, height, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith

Related Words for Zero

blank, void, no-name, noncelebrity, least, inferior, mediocrity, obscurity, figurehead, puppet, nonperson, unperson, outcast, pariah, reject, abyss, armpit, pit

Near Antonyms of Zero

chief, lead, leader, celebrity, luminary, notable, personality, planet, star, superstar, authority, superior, great power, party, power, bloom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, crescendo, high, cap, ceiling, crest, roof

Word Forms of Zero

Inflections: zeros, zeroes, zeroed, zeroing

Origin & Etymology of Zero

French or Italian; French zéro, from Italian zero, from Medieval Latin zephirum, from Arabic ṣifr

First known use: 1598

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Zero

Words & Phrases Containing Zero

zero-based, zero coupon, zero-day, zero grade, zero gravity, zero hour, zero-sum

Frequently Asked Questions about Zero

What does "Zero" mean?

"Zero" means the arithmetical symbol 0 or [SYMBOL] denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: the arithmetical symbol 0 or [SYMBOL] denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Zero"?

Other words for "Zero" include aught, cipher, goose egg, naught, nil, nothing, o and oh. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Zero" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Zero"?

There are 48 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Zero". Common alternatives include aught, cipher, goose egg, naught, nil, nothing, o, oh, zilch and zip.

What is the opposite of "Zero"?

Antonyms of "Zero" include big shot, big wheel, bigwig, eminence, figure, kahuna, kingpin and magnate. Near antonyms include chief, lead, leader and celebrity.

How do you use "Zero" in a sentence?

Examples of "Zero" in a sentence: "anything multiplied by zero comes out to zero"; "those snobs on the cruise ship tried to make me feel like a complete zero"; "after several dating disasters, my confidence with the opposite sex is at zero".

Is "Zero" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Zero" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Zero" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Zero" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Zero"?

"Zero" is pronounced /ˈzir-(ˌ)ō/ and divided into syllables as ze·ro.