nought
Americannoun
noun
noun
Usage
What does nought mean? Nought means nothing or none, as in All of my efforts at winning the game were for nought because I lost badly. Nought also refers to zero. For example, if your math class is in Room One-Nought-Seven, it is in Room 107. The informal term noughties for the decade of 2000–2009 comes from this sense. Nought is an alternate spelling of naught, which has the exact same meaning. Example: I had nought to do with breaking the lamp, but my mother still thought I was involved.
Etymology
Origin of nought
before 900; Middle English; Old English nōht, contraction of nōwiht, equivalent to ne not + ōwiht aught 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
History has taught you that pouring out your time, energy and emotions will similarly come to nought.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026
The veteran strike weapon delivered as he has so many times before, enticing a thick edge from Zak Crawley that Usman Khawaja did well to collect down low at slip, the opener gone for nought.
From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025
He then wrapped up the innings when he bowled Kagiso Rabada for nought to finish with 3-98 off 33 overs.
From Barron's • Oct. 14, 2025
On nought, Knight was given out caught behind on the field but the third umpire overturned it, saying there "inconclusive" evidence there was no bat.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025
Mr. Sharpe betrayed an early dislike for my mother, whose arts and airs excited in him nought but irritation.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
