naught

1 of 2

pronoun

ˈnȯt  ˈnät 

variants or less commonly nought

: nothing

Their efforts came to naught.

It was all for naught.

naught

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly nought

1

: nothingness, nonexistence

2

: the arithmetical symbol 0 : zero, cipher

Synonyms

Noun

• zero
• oh
• zip
• aught
• o
• nothing
• nil

Examples of naught in a Sentence

Noun

my locker number is naught-seven-two

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

So the general vindication of the method was a very big deal for the IRS because, had the Tax Court invalidated the method, basically the whole cautionary and regulatory overhaul would have been for naught. —Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

But if Stafford isn't healthy enough to play, this was obviously all for naught. —Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025

Attempts by his mother and stepfather (Adam Tompa) to communicate with him are fruitless; various therapists and special schools have likewise come to naught. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025

Lucas Giolito’s 7 shutout innings for naught as Sox can’t complete sweep The Red Sox squandered seven shutout innings from Lucas Giolito and dropped yet another 1-run game. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun and Noun

Middle English nought, from Old English nāwiht, from nā no + wiht creature, thing — more at no, wight

First Known Use

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing naught

• all for naught
• come to naught
• go for naught

Rhymes for naught

• aught
• baht
• blot
• bott
• bought
• brought
• caught
• clot
• cot
• cott
• dot
• fought

Kids Definition

naught

1 of 2 pronoun

variants also nought

ˈnȯt,

ˈnät

: nothing entry 1 sense 2

their efforts came to naught

naught

2 of 2 noun

variants also nought

1

: the quality or state of being nothing : nonexistence

2

: zero entry 1 sense 1 see number