Ought

/ɔːt/ · verb

Meaning

(obsolete) simple past of owe.

Definitions by Sense

1. (obsolete) simple past of owe
2. Indicating duty or obligation.
3. Indicating advisability or prudence.
4. Indicating desirability.
5. Indicating likelihood or probability.
6. Alternative spelling of aught; anything
7. Alternative spelling of aught; at all, to any degree.
8. A statement of what ought to be the case as contrasted with what is the case.

Example Sentences

There was a certayne lender / which had two detters / the one ought five hondred pence / and the other fifty.

[…]witneſſe Ariſtippus, who being vrged with the affection he ought his children, as proceeding from his loynes, began to ſpeake and ſpit[…].

I ought to vote in the coming election.

You ought to always stand back from the edge of the platform.

Do you think we ought to leave now?

He ought to read the book; it was very good.

We ought to arrive by noon if we take the motorway, shouldn't we?

My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.

Synonyms for ought

Antonyms for ought

Related Words

Word Forms

• oughts

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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