pron
naught
nawt
Naught (pron) means Nothing; zero. Example: “All his efforts came to naught.”
pron
1
Nothing; zero.
"Naught can come of this, you mark my words."
"My day starts where yesterday's had finished - at St Pancras, only this time on Thameslink and the subterranean station I first visited when it was naught but an empty box. Now it's a vital cross-London interchange."
— Paul Bigland, From rural branches to high-speed arteries (2022)
"All his efforts came to naught."
"Her warnings went for naught."
How to use naught
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned or literary word for "nothing."
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "naughty" (misbehaving) — they look similar but are unrelated in modern use.
Common pairings
come to naught
all for naught
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Etymology
From Old English nawiht, literally "no thing" — built from ne ("not") plus wiht ("thing, creature"), the same wiht that survives in "wight."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for naught
See all rhymes for naught →Frequently asked questions
What does “naught” mean?
The word “naught” means nothing; zero. In plain terms, an old-fashioned or literary word for "nothing.".
How do you pronounce “naught”?
“Naught” is pronounced nawt (/nɔːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “naught” in a sentence?
Here is “naught” used in a sentence: “All his efforts came to naught.”
What part of speech is “naught”?
“Naught” is a pronoun.
Where does the word “naught” come from?
The word “naught” comes from Old English. From Old English nawiht, literally "no thing" — built from ne ("not") plus wiht ("thing, creature"), the same wiht that survives in "wight.".
