ought

CEFRB1

/ɔːt/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    Used to say what is right, expected, or advisable.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    Indicating advisability or prudence.

Examples

  • I think that you ought to apologize to her.

  • You look tired. You ought to rest for an hour or two.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /oːt/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. Indicating duty or obligation.

  2. Indicating desirability.

  3. Indicating likelihood or probability.

More examples

In context

  • Do you think we ought to leave now?

  • I ought to vote in the coming election.

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

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

You blank to apologize for your rude behavior at the party.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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”).