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Glite Dictionary
📅 A decade ✅ Should do
ought

ought

3.4
To be expected or right to do something and likely to happen
  • auxiliary
  • /ɔt/
translation icon : deber
  • You ought to apologize if you made a mistake.

Examples

  • The train ought to arrive at 8 o'clock, according to the schedule.

  • She ought to know the answer after studying so hard.

  • You ought to apologize.

  • They ought to arrive soon.

  • You ought to apologize if you made a mistake.

  • The train ought to arrive at 8 o'clock, according to the schedule.

  • She ought to know the answer after studying so hard.

Synonyms

supposed to
vsought
2.1

To be expected to happen or to be required to do something

is about what is right, expected, or likely rather than imposed
should
vsought
1.0

To say that something is likely to happen or be true

is used for what is right, expected, or likely rather than just probability
had better
vsought
2.0

To tell someone they should do something because not doing it may cause trouble

is broader and states rightness, expectation, or likelihood, not urgent warning

Idioms

no better than one ought to be
9.9

Acting in a way that people think is wrong

How Obligatory

to must
1.0
ought
3.4
should
1.0
may
1.0

Surface Forms

ought infinitive

Etymology

Ought comes from an old past form of the verb owe, which used to mean 'to owe' or 'to have to'. So, when you say someone ought to do something, it is like saying they 'owe' it or that it is the right or expected thing for them to do.