What does "ought" mean?
A statement of what ought to be the case as contrasted with what is the case.
Ought
/ɔːt/ adv, noun, pron, verb
adv, noun, pron, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A statement of what ought to be the case as contrasted with what is the case.
- Grammar: ought is listed as adv, noun, pron, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: should, allegiance, be supposed to, burden.
- Useful contrasts: discretionary option, no obligation, optional.
- Usage evidence: You look tired. You ought to rest for an hour or two.
How to use "ought"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "ought" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "ought" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "ought" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "ought" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ought" is acting as adv, noun, pron, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "should" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "ought", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A statement of what ought to be the case as contrasted with what is the case.
"There are value judgments that are not reducible to observable matters of fact, and there are oughts that cannot be construed as hypothetical and, therefore, cannot be converted into statements of fact."
- 2 Alternative spelling of aught; cipher, zero, nought. alt-of, alternative
"I go back at eight o'clock to-morrow morning, and have got only three—three oughts an ought—three twos six—sixty pound."
Verb
- 1 simple past of owe form-of, obsolete, past
"There was a certayne lender / which had two detters / the one ought five hondred pence / and the other fifty."
- 2 Indicating duty or obligation. auxiliary, dated, formal
"I ought to vote in the coming election."
- 3 Indicating advisability or prudence. auxiliary, dated, formal
"You ought to always stand back from the edge of the platform."
- 4 Indicating desirability. auxiliary, dated, formal
"He ought to read the book; it was very good."
- 5 Indicating likelihood or probability. auxiliary, dated, formal
"We ought to arrive by noon if we take the motorway, shouldn't we?"
Adverb
- 1 Alternative spelling of aught; at all, to any degree. alt-of, alternative, not-comparable
Pronoun
- 1 Alternative spelling of aught; anything alt-of, alternative
"Is it a small benefit, that I am placed there […] where I see no drunken comessations, no rebellious routs, no violent oppressions, no obscene rejoicings, nor ought else that might either vex or affright my soul?"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"You look tired. You ought to rest for an hour or two."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "ought"?
Common synonyms include: should, allegiance, be supposed to, burden, business, charge.
How do you use "ought" in a sentence?
You look tired. You ought to rest for an hour or two.
How do you pronounce "ought"?
Pronounced /ɔːt/.
Etymology
From Middle English oughte, aughte, aȝte, ahte, from Old English āhte, first and third person singular past tense of Old English āgan (“to own, possess”), equivalent to owe + -t. Cognate with Sanskrit ईश्वर (īśvará, “capable of, liable”).