not for naught

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomliterary

   Not without good reason or result; having been worthwhile, not wasted.

   Grammar: Used as a comment on an effort or event: their work was not for naught.

   Patterns

   • be not for naught
   • not for naught did something happen

   Her years of training were not for naught, because she won the gold medal.

   It was not for naught that the town built the flood wall.

   The long wait was not for naught, as the news was good.

2. 2phraseidiomliterary

   Used to say that something happened or is named a certain way for a good reason.

   Grammar: Often begins a sentence: not for naught is he called the master.

   Patterns

   • not for naught is something called something

   Not for naught is he called the master of the game.

   Not for naught did the villagers avoid the old road.

   Not for naught is the city known for its bakers.

Common combinations

was not for naught

Their sacrifice was not for naught.

not for naught that

It is not for naught that she was chosen.

all was not for naught

We lost the game, but the effort was not for naught.

not for naught is called

Not for naught is it called the happiest place.

Synonyms and how they differ

not in vain

Not in vain is the more traditional and widely accepted form, while not for naught sounds a bit more dramatic.

not for nothing

Not for nothing is the common British idiom and often means for a good reason.

worthwhile

Worthwhile is an ordinary adjective, but not for naught is a phrase that comments after the fact.

Opposites

Word family

naught noun

nothing, in older or literary English

naughty adjective

badly behaved, from the same old root meaning worthless

for naught phrase

in vain; for no result

Commonly confused: not for naught or not for nothing? not for naught or nought?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “not for naught”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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