No Way
"No way" is a Southern and Appalachian saying used in negative clauses to mean anyway, anyhow, or regardless ("He ain’t comin’ no way"). It is distinct from the standalone exclamation "No way!" meaning disbelief.
synonyms: anyway (in negatives), anyhow, regardless
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You hear 'no way' used like this out in the country - probably more from old timers. I've heard this one all my life, but I'm not sure if I say it. Don't really matter no ways. Hillbilly Dude Says...
You hear 'no way' used like this out in the country - probably more from old timers. I've heard this one all my life, but I'm not sure if I say it. Don't really matter no ways. Pronunciation
[NO-way] (stress on "no")
/ˈnoʊ weɪ/
/ˈnoʊ weɪ/
Meaning & Usage
- Concessive adverb in negative clauses ("anyway/anyhow/regardless")
Mae:
You think he’ll make the meeting?
You think he’ll make the meeting?
Earl:
No ma’am-he ain’t comin’ no way.
No ma’am-he ain’t comin’ no way.variations: noway, no ways
★ If it follows a negative ("ain’t," "wouldn’t," "never"), "no way" down South usually means anyway/anyhow/regardless - a tidy way to close the thought. ★
Origin and Etymology
The phrase "no way" is widespread in English, but its concessive use inside negative clauses - meaning "anyway/anyhow/regardless" -is characteristic of Southern and Appalachian speech. Regional transcripts and oral histories from the 20th century show this pattern in everyday storytelling and conversation.
Usage Notes
- Appears after a negative verb: "ain’t/wasn’t/wouldn’t" + no way = "anyway/anyhow/regardless."
- Not equivalent to "either"; it does not add a second item - rather, it wraps up or resigns the point.
- Distinct from the standalone exclamation "No way!" meaning disbelief or refusal, which is nationwide.
- Variant spellings (noway, no ways) occur in dialect writing; use "no way" for readability and SEO.