English Explanatory Dictionary

ought

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. simple past of owe
verb
  1. Indicating duty or obligation.
  2. Indicating advisability or prudence.
  3. Indicating desirability.
  4. Indicating likelihood or probability.
pron
  1. Alternative spelling of aught; anything
adv
  1. Alternative spelling of aught; at all, to any degree.
noun
  1. A statement of what ought to be the case as contrasted with what is the case.
noun
  1. Alternative spelling of aught; cipher, zero, nought.

Pronunciation

/ɔːt/ /oːt/ /ʊt/ /ɔt/ /ɑt/ en-us-ought.ogg

Word forms

ought oughts

Etymology

From Middle English oughte, aughte, aȝte, ahte, from Old English āhte, first and third person singular past tense of Old English āgan (“to own, possess”), equivalent to owe + -t. Cognate with Sanskrit ईश्वर (īśvará, “capable of, liable”).

Synonyms

should be supposed to

Related words

ought to aught naught nought

Derived words

hadn't ought had ought is-ought problem no better than one ought to be oughtism oughtness ought-not-ness there ought to be a law
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