Meaning & use
ought
Last updated
used to indicate duty, correctness, or what is advisable or expected.
See it in a sentence
You ought to apologize for being late.
The report ought to be finished by Friday.
A note on using this word
Ought is almost always followed by 'to' plus a verb, as in 'ought to go,' unlike 'should,' which doesn't need 'to.'
Words with a similar meaning
should
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
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