What does ought mean?
“Ought” is a modal verb used to express obligation, expectation, advice, or necessity, usually in the pattern “ought to” followed by an infinitive. Saying “You ought to apologize” indicates that apologizing is morally desirable or expected, while “We ought to leave soon” suggests that leaving is the sensible or necessary course of action. It is close in meaning to “should” and can sometimes sound more formal or emphatic, especially in professional, educational, or moral contexts. “Ought” is also used with infinitives such as “have,” “know,” and “be” to refer to an expectation about the past or a likely state of affairs: “She ought to have arrived by now.” The word has no conventional direct antonym. Although it may appear in informal speech, it retains a measured, somewhat traditional tone and is often chosen instead of “should” when the speaker wants to emphasize duty or sound more deliberate.
modal verbUsed to indicate what someone should do or what is expected or necessary: “You ought to apologize.” In informal contexts, it can also mean “should” or “had better.”
- Used with “to” followed by an infinitive to express moral duty, expectation, or advice: “You ought to leave now.”
- Used in the expression “ought” followed by an infinitive to indicate what is necessary or desirable in a particular situation: “We ought to have checked the weather.”
"You ought to tell her the truth before the situation gets any worse."
"If you are going to the meeting, you ought to arrive a few minutes early."
"The report ought to be ready before the committee reviews it."
“Ought” began as the past tense of “owe,” but today it is usually used to express what someone should do — one of the few English verbs whose history remains faintly visible in its modern meaning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ought come from?
The word comes from Old English ōhte, originally the past tense of āgan, meaning “to owe” or “to have a debt or obligation.” By the Middle English period, it had developed a broader sense of “should” or “must,” reflecting the idea that someone who owes something ought to do what is expected. Modern “owe” preserves the related original meaning, while “owner” and “ownership” continue the broader family of words associated with possessing or being responsible for something.
Related word forms
How ought is actually used
“Ought” is formal or neutral in register and often sounds more emphatic than “should,” particularly when expressing moral obligation or a strong expectation. It normally takes “to” plus an infinitive and is not followed by “do.” Negative forms use “ought not to” or the contraction “oughtn't to.”
Easily confused with ought
“Ought” expresses obligation, expectation, or advice, whereas “owe” means to have a duty or obligation to repay, repay, or provide something.