OUGHT Meaning and
Definition
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The term "ought" is a modal auxiliary verb commonly used to indicate a duty, obligation or moral compulsion to perform a certain action. It represents a judgment or belief about what is morally right or proper, rather than describing what is actually happening in reality.
Used as an auxiliary verb, "ought" is often followed by the base form of a verb, similar to "should." For example, one might say, "You ought to study for the exam." This suggests that it is the person's moral duty or obligation to study.
Additionally, "ought" can be utilized to give advice, make recommendations, or express expectations. For instance, "We ought to arrive early to the meeting" implies a suggestion or expectation that arriving early is the proper course of action.
Furthermore, "ought" can be used to express a desirable state or outcome. For example, "He ought to be proud of his accomplishments" suggests that it is appropriate or fitting for someone to feel pride in their achievements.
In summary, "ought" is a modal auxiliary verb that conveys duty, obligation, moral compulsion, advice, suggestions, expectations, or desirable outcomes. It reflects subjective judgment rather than objective reality and is often used to express what is considered proper or appropriate behavior.
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• Anything; a tittle or jot.
• A defective verb, formerly the pt. of owe; to be bound in duty or moral obligation.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for OUGHT *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for OUGHT
Etymology of OUGHT
The word "ought" has its origins in Old English. It is derived from the Old English word "āhte" (pronounced "aw-htuh"), which meant "to possess" or "to have a duty to". Over time, this word underwent changes in pronunciation and spelling, eventually evolving into "ought" in Modern English. The original sense of obligation or duty linked to the word is still present in its usage today.
Idioms with the word OUGHT
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no better than (one) ought to be
The idiom "no better than (one) ought to be" means that someone's behavior, actions, or qualities fall short of what is expected or appropriate for them. It implies that the person is not living up to the standard of behavior or moral conduct that they should adhere to.
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There ought to be a law!
The idiom "There ought to be a law!" is used to express dissatisfaction or frustration with a particular situation or behavior, implying that a new law or regulation should be implemented to address the issue at hand. It suggests that the existing laws or regulations are insufficient in resolving the problem.
Similar spelling words for OUGHT
Conjugate verb Ought
CONDITIONAL
I
would ought
you
would ought
he/she/it
would ought
we
would ought
they
would ought
CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS
I
would be oughting
you
would be oughting
he/she/it
would be oughting
we
would be oughting
they
would be oughting
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have ought
you
would have ought
he/she/it
would have ought
we
would have ought
they
would have ought
CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
would have been oughting
you
would have been oughting
he/she/it
would have been oughting
we
would have been oughting
they
would have been oughting
FUTURE
I
will ought
you
will ought
he/she/it
will ought
we
will ought
they
will ought
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be oughting
you
will be oughting
he/she/it
will be oughting
we
will be oughting
they
will be oughting
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have oughted
you
will have oughted
he/she/it
will have oughted
we
will have oughted
they
will have oughted
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been oughting
you
will have been oughting
he/she/it
will have been oughting
we
will have been oughting
they
will have been oughting
IMPERATIVE
you
ought
we
let´s ought
to ought
PAST
I
oughted
you
oughted
he/she/it
oughted
we
oughted
they
oughted
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was oughting
you
were oughting
he/she/it
was oughting
we
were oughting
they
were oughting
PAST PARTICIPLE
ought
oughted
PAST PERFECT
I
had oughted
you
had oughted
he/she/it
had oughted
we
had oughted
they
had oughted
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been oughting
you
had been oughting
he/she/it
had been oughting
we
had been oughting
they
had been oughting
PRESENT
I
ought
you
ought
he/she/it
ought
we
ought
they
ought
he/she/it
oughts
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
you
he/she/it
we
they
I
am oughting
you
are oughting
he/she/it
is oughting
we
are oughting
they
are oughting
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
oughting
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have oughted
you
have oughted
he/she/it
has oughted
we
have oughted
they
have oughted
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been oughting
you
have been oughting
he/she/it
has been oughting
we
have been oughting
they
have been oughting
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