Word
naught
US/ˈnɔt/
UK/nˈɔːt/
Definition
n. nothing at all. You use this word to show that there is no value or amount of something.
n. nothing; zero. Archaic in modern usage, though it persists in specific idiomatic expressions like 'for naught'.
Examples
“He worked hard for naught.”
“The thief spent hours trying to open the safe, only to find that all his efforts were for naught.”
“The ancient text suggests that the king's final attempt to reclaim his lost kingdom was for naught, as the kingdom had already been destroyed by the invading forces.”
Examples
simple
“He worked hard for naught.”
contextual
“The thief spent hours trying to open the safe, only to find that all his efforts were for naught.”
complex
“The ancient text suggests that the king's final attempt to reclaim his lost kingdom was for naught, as the kingdom had already been destroyed by the invading forces.”
Real-World Examples
“All his efforts to mobilise help to protect his land, however, were for naught.” “When my best intentions to eat well are for naught and I gorge on Doritos, I remember that the tasters PepsiCo hires to test the chips’ addictiveness are contractors.” Etymology
From the Middle English naught, nought, naht, nawiht, from Old English nawiht. Cognate with West Frisian neat (“nothing, naught”). Doublet of nought. Equivalent to ne + aught.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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