—used to express obligation
ought to pay our debts
, advisabilityought to take care of yourself
, natural expectationought to be here by now
, or logical consequencethe result ought to be infinity
Examples of ought in a Sentence
Auxiliary verb
you ought to buy him a new book to replace the one you lost
Recent Examples on the Web
Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 3 Feb. 2023
Executives and other representatives, like celebrity endorsers, ought to tread carefully, experts say, and so should investors.
—Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2023
Eric Asimov, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2023
Those who find monetary success in life ought to use their position to serve others, said West.
—Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 17 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for ought 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Auxiliary verb
But forward-thinking boards ought to start looking at where a company is going—ask who’s ready to deal with technological change or a fast-growing diverse population—to find their next chair, rather than assume a former CEO is most qualified.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 3 Feb. 2023
Executives and other representatives, like celebrity endorsers, ought to tread carefully, experts say, and so should investors.
—Ashley Cullins, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2023
Verb
Marketing to younger consumers ought to amplify sustainability and social responsibility, Mr. McMillan said, subjects that wine is well-positioned to highlight.
—Eric Asimov, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2023
Those who find monetary success in life ought to use their position to serve others, said West.
—Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 17 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for ought
Dictionary Entries Near ought
Cite this Entry
“Ought.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ought. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share