ought

Definition

  • noun: moral obligation
  • archaic variant of 'aught'
  • used to indicate what is expected
  • synonyms: possess, owe, duty

Examples

  • It 'ought not' ('to') make any difference. [=(more commonly) it shouldn't make any difference]

  • Children 'ought not' [='should not'] run near the pool.

  • If my math is correct, the result 'ought to' be zero.

Movie quotes

  • (..) no trouble, right? Maybe. Boy, for a gunman, you're one hell of a pessimist. They ought to get to where we split up any time. They're just about there. How many of them do you (..)
    1969 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
  • (..) um, do something. Give me that and get some more, a lot more! Well, that ought to do it. Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch? Ha ha ha ha. What the hell is that? Whatever they're selling, (..)
    1969 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid