ain't definition
Ain't is a contraction for am not, is not, are not, has not, and have not in the common English language vernacular. In some dialects ain't is also used as a contraction of do not, does not, and did not. The development of ain't for the various forms of to be not, to have not, and to do not occurred independently, at different times. The usage of ain't for the forms of to be not was established by the mid-18th century, and for the forms of to have not by the early 19th century. Nonstandard. have not; has not; do not; does not; did not. As a substitute for am not, is not, and are not in declarative sentences, ain't is more common in uneducated speech than in educated, but it occurs with some frequency in the informal speech of the educated, especially in the southern and south-central states. Although widely disapproved as nonstandard, and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ain't is flourishing in American English. 1 : am not : are not : is not … the man who swept the streets said: “Well now, ain't that nice!” — Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings. 2 : have not : has not “She ain't seen me for a week …” — Richard Peck, A Long Way From Chicago. Definition of ain't. ain't. other. is not; am not; are not; do not; have not; will not; etc. Typically used in the double negative, as the example sentences show. Its use in the United States is generally limited to the South and Midwest. Ain't nothing like that I ain't seen before. Usage note. As a substitute for am not, is not, and are not in declarative sentences, ain't is more common in uneducated speech than in educated, but it occurs with some frequency in the informal speech of the educated, especially in the southern and south-central states. Definition of ain't for Students. 1  1 : am not : are not : is not … the man who swept the streets said: “Well now, ain't that nice!” — Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings. 2  2 : have not : has not “She ain't seen me for a week …” — Richard Peck, A Long Way From Chicago. Contribute to our Open Dictionary. a way of saying ‘am not’, ‘is not’, ‘are not’, ‘has not’, or ‘have not’. Many people consider ‘ain’t’ to be incorrect. Synonyms and related words. Ways of saying no:no, certainly not, by no means... Explore Thesaurus. Historical Examples.  1 Maybe he has been kissin' mair than his ain hand, said Alisoun Begbie, slyly. 2  I would gie five shillin' if the man could hear his ain judgment! 3  I tell you, suh, I is done smell all de smells o' mink an' mus' an' puffume, but I ain' nuver smell nuttin' like dat jail. The definition of ain't is slang for the phrases am not, is not, are not and have not. If someone accuses you of being stupid and you want to protest the accusation, this is an example of when you might say I ain't stupid.. Informal am not. : a dialectal or nonstandard usage: you ain't seen nothing yet! is not or are not.
A contraction for am not, is not, are not, has not, and have not.