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

  • (..) LUIS: Me and Benny have Iunch together. NICK: He probabIy knows me. We're up to what? Seven cheques. $. $ more. -We ought to take a Ieak. -Freeze! Get your hands up! Go against the waII, turn around. You're not kidding. You're under arrest (..)
    1983 Scarface
  • (..) That's styIe, fIash, pizzazz. And a IittIe coke money doesn't hurt nobody. Look at this. F$cking onions. They ought to be picking goId from the street. There's two guys Iooking for you out there. That's him, man. That's . I toId you. (..)
    1983 Scarface