definitely won't

USAGE SUMMARY

"definitely won't" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would use it when expressing certainty that something will not happen. For example: "I definitely won't be able to make it to the meeting tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Definitely won't touch that.

The New York Times

"But we definitely won't be leaving".

The New York Times

Two: the Deadpool sequel definitely won't.

The Guardian - Film

"We definitely won't be back by Monday".

The New York Times

No, we definitely won't invade that".

The Guardian

But I definitely won't marry Hank".

The Guardian - Books

Hopefully, this year it definitely won't be Chico time.

Independent

A spokesman said: "The Bill definitely won't be published tomorrow".

Independent

But it definitely won't make you forget about "Lost".

The New York Times - Arts

Dukakis definitely won't pick Bentsen; I got it nailed.

The New York Times

"People definitely won't feel like they got ripped off.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "definitely won't" when you want to express a strong and certain negation about a future event or action. It adds emphasis compared to simply saying "will not".

Common error

While "definitely won't" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid contractions like "won't" in very formal or academic writing. Instead, use the full form: "definitely will not".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "definitely won't" functions as an emphatic negative predictor. It combines the adverb "definitely", indicating certainty, with the contraction "won't" (will not), expressing a future negation. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "definitely won't" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong negation about a future event. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is widely accepted and understood. While it is suitable for many contexts, more formal writing might benefit from using "certainly will not". The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, indicating its relevance in conveying certainty in reporting and communication. When you need to make a clear and emphatic statement about something that will not happen, "definitely won't" is a reliable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certainly will not

Replaces "definitely" with "certainly", maintaining the same degree of assurance.

absolutely will not

Substitutes "definitely" with "absolutely", emphasizing the impossibility.

will never

Emphasizes the negation by using "never" to indicate that something will not happen at any time.

under no circumstances will

Uses a more formal and emphatic structure to express strong negation.

cannot possibly

Indicates that something is not feasible or within the realm of possibility.

it's not going to happen

A straightforward and commonly used phrase to deny a future event.

it is out of the question

A formal expression stating that something is not to be considered or permitted.

not a chance

Offers a more informal and concise way to express impossibility.

there is no possibility

Highlights the absence of any chance for something to occur.

no way

A very informal expression indicating strong refusal or impossibility.

FAQs

How can I use "definitely won't" in a sentence?

You can use "definitely won't" to express certainty that something will not happen. For example, "I "definitely won't" be late again" or "She "definitely won't" agree to that plan".

What's a more formal alternative to "definitely won't"?

In formal contexts, you might prefer "certainly will not" or "absolutely will not" instead of "definitely won't". These alternatives avoid the contraction "won't".

Is "definitely won't" stronger than "will not"?

Yes, "definitely won't" is stronger because the adverb "definitely" emphasizes the certainty of the negation. Using "definitely" adds conviction to your statement.

Can I use "definitely won't" in business communication?

Yes, "definitely won't" is acceptable in many business contexts, especially when communicating internally or in less formal settings. However, for very formal external communications, "certainly will not" might be more appropriate.