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 of naught

Noun

• nothing
• zero
• aught

Examples of naught in a Sentence

Noun

my locker number is naught-seven-two

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That doesn’t mean getting the flu shot was for naught. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Jan. 2026

Because of this failure, Lindsay’s good intentions and accomplishments were largely for naught. —Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026

Judkins’ last-ditch effort to throw the ball across the field was for naught. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025

So, all the drama was for naught. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 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