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ought to. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ought to, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ought to in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ought to you have here. The definition of the word
ought to will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
ought to, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Verb
ought to
- (auxiliary) Indicating duty or obligation.
- (auxiliary) Indicating advisability or prudence.
- (auxiliary) Indicating desirability.
- (auxiliary) Indicating likelihood or probability.
Usage notes
- See ought for fuller examples and usage.
- Many sources consider that ought to is the basic modal verb form. However, many examples of the use of ought without to as a basic modal auxiliary verb are to be found in common use.
See also