naught

or nought

[ nawt ]

noun

1. nothing.
2. a cipher (0); zero.

adjective

1. lost; ruined.
2. Archaic. worthless; useless.
3. Obsolete. morally bad; wicked.

adverb

1. Obsolete. not.

naught

/ nɔːt /

noun

1. archaic.
   nothing or nothingness; ruin or failure
2. a variant spelling (esp US) of nought
3. set at naught
   to have disregard or scorn for; disdain

adverb

1. archaic.
   not at all

   it matters naught

adjective

1. obsolete.
   worthless, ruined, or wicked

Word History and Origins

Origin of naught¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English nauht, nāwiht ( nā no ¹ + wiht thing). See nought, wight ¹, whit

Word History and Origins

Origin of naught¹

Old English nāwiht, from nā no ¹+ wiht thing, person; see wight ¹, whit

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. come to naught, to come to nothing; be without result or fruition; fail.
2. set at naught, to regard or treat as of no importance; disdain:

   He entered a milieu that set his ideals at naught.

More idioms and phrases containing naught

see come to nothing (naught) .

Example Sentences

This is not to say that Harris’ vigorous preparation in the days leading up to her first in-person meeting with Trump was entirely for naught.

From Salon

All for naught, save a lot of speculation about what Newsom was really up to.

From Los Angeles Times

Ten minutes later a blistering U.S. counterattack went for naught when Swanson, after dribbling from the midfield stripe, put her shot right at Lorena, who made the easy save.

From Los Angeles Times

For all the grounding and presence that resets our nervous systems, our earthly vessels would be naught without the dream of a shimmery green.

From Los Angeles Times

As improvements in representation once again stagnate, 2020 initiatives come to naught and inclusive films and TV series are canceled, shelved or removed from streaming, it’s easy to read Hollywood’s stated commitment to diversity as a form of public relations, intended to diffuse dissent rather than stimulate progress.

From Los Angeles Times