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

  • (..) to drill your lots, maybe one in twenty will be oilmen. The rest will be speculators, that's men trying to get between you and the oilmen to get some of the money that ought, by rights, come to you. Even if you find one that has money and means to drill, he'll maybe know nothing about drilling. (..)
    2007 There Will Be Blood