Definition of "ought" in English

verb

1. (obsolete) simple past of owe

verb

1. (auxiliary, formal, dated) Indicating duty or obligation.

   • I ought to vote in the coming election.

2. (auxiliary, formal, dated) Indicating advisability or prudence.

   • You ought to always stand back from the edge of the platform.
   • Do you think we ought to leave now?

3. (auxiliary, formal, dated) Indicating desirability.

   • He ought to read the book; it was very good.

4. (auxiliary, formal, dated) Indicating likelihood or probability.

   • We ought to arrive by noon if we take the motorway, shouldn't we?

pronoun

1. Alternative spelling of aught; anything

adverb

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.