ought

auxiliary verb \ ˈȯt \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of ought

—used to express obligation

ought to pay our debts

, advisability

ought to take care of yourself

, natural expectation

ought to be here by now

, or logical consequence

the result ought to be infinity

Recent Examples of ought from the Web

Stated differently, should the federal government or states’ governments decide whether sports betting ought to be lawful?

— michael mccann, SI.com, "Why New Jersey Won Its Supreme Court Battle to Legalize Sports Betting," 14 May 2018
And while sales are one way to gauge the will of the people, the marketplace is fickle. Americans ought to be cautious before making corporations their moral compass or primary vehicle for reform.

— adam winkler, The New Republic, "Why big business is suddenly into liberal politics," 30 Apr. 2018
The kind of diversity that has brought both of them into the spotlight ought to be the norm rather than singled out, to the point that the comparison wouldn’t be considered necessary in the first place.

— karen han, Teen Vogue, "No, Crazy Rich Asians Isn't the "Asian Black Panther"," 27 Apr. 2018
In large part, that’s because anti-abortionist’s argument hinges upon the notion that life is always sacred and ought never be taken.

— jennifer wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Abortion Is Not Murder," 13 Apr. 2018
In most cases, unless a reliable soil test suggests otherwise, that ought to be a high-nitrogen, lawn-type fertilizer.

— neil sperry, star-telegram, "Shady spots are like the Goldilocks of gardening. Here, four plants that are just right | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 30 Mar. 2018
Instead of brain tissue, the doctors found a 9cm (~3.5 inch) pressurized pocket of air where much of his right frontal lobe ought to be.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Doctors shocked by 3.5-inch air bubble where part of man’s brain should be," 13 Mar. 2018
Both Redente and Matviak maintain that Sidney’s struggles ought to concern people across the country in areas that can no longer be protected from climate change.

— christopher flavelle, Bloomberg.com, "America’s Last-Ditch Climate Strategy of Retreat Isn’t Going So Well," 2 May 2018
Broadway has come to rely on subsidized testing grounds, but nonprofit theaters ought to be raising the bar.

— charles mcnulty, latimes.com, "Tony Award nominations reflect an anemic year for original ideas. Here's a critic's take on the bright spots," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ought.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ought

Middle English oughte (1st & 3rd singular present indicative), from oughte, 1st & 3rd singular past indicative & subjunctive of owen to own, owe — more at owe

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First Known Use: 12th century

in the meaning defined above

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