ought

About 31.15 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb simple past of owe
2. verb Indicating duty or obligation.

   I ought to vote in the coming election.

3. verb Indicating advisability or prudence.

   You ought to always stand back from the edge of the platform.

4. verb Indicating desirability.

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

5. verb Indicating likelihood or probability.

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

6. pronoun Alternative spelling of aught; anything
7. adverb Alternative spelling of aught; at all, to any degree.
8. noun A statement of what ought to be the case as contrasted with what is the case.

Similar words

should must need had better would could will can shall antinomy

Often followed by

to not never we always in also i rather

Word family

aught oughted oughting oughts