Definitions for ought
ɔtought

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. oughtnoun

   cipher, zero, nought.

2. Etymology: ahte, past tense of agan

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Oughtnoun

   Any thing; not nothing.

   Etymology: awhit , that is, a whit, Saxon.

   For ought that I can understand, there is no part but the bare English pale, in which the Irish have not the greatest footing. Edmund Spenser, on Ireland.

   He asked him if he saw ought. Mark viii. 23.

   To do ought good never will be our task;
   But ever to do ill our sole delight. John Milton, Par. Lost.

   Universal Lord! be bounteous still
   To give us only good; and if the night
   Have gather’d ought of evil, or conceal’d,
   Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark. John Milton.

2. Oughtverb imperfect.

   but it has often a present signification.

   Etymology: This word the etymologists make the preterite of owe,

   1. [Preterite of owe.] Owed; was bound to pay; have been indebted.

   Apprehending the occasion, I will add a continuance to that happy motion, and besides give you some tribute of the love and duty I long have ought you. Henry Spelman.

   This blood which men by treason sought,
   That followed, sir, which to myself I ought. Dryden.

   2. To be obliged by duty.

   Judges ought to remember, that their office is to interpret law, and not to make or give law. Francis Bacon.

   Morals criticks ought to show. Alexander Pope.

   She acts just as she ought,
   But never, never reach’d one generous thought. Alexander Pope.

   3. To be fit; to be necessary.

   If grammar ought to be taught, it must be to one that can speak the language already. John Locke.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

1. Ought

   awt, n. (same as Aught) a vulgar corr. of nought.—adv. (Scot.) Ought′lings, at all, in any degree.

2. Ought

   awt, v.i. to be under obligation: to be proper or necessary.—n. Ought′ness, rightness. [A.S. áhte, pa.t. of ágan, to owe.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ought' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2070

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ought' in Written Corpus Frequency: #675

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ought' in Verbs Frequency: #339

Anagrams for ought »

1. tough

How to pronounce ought?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say ought in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ought in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ought in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of ought in a Sentence

1. Jeb Bush Bush:

   One thing I won't do is just say as a candidate :' I'm just going to tear up the agreement on the first day.' That sounds great, but maybe you ought to check in with your allies first, maybe you ought to appoint a secretary of state, maybe a secretary of defense. You might want to have your team in place before you take an act like that.

2. Jeb Bush:

   One thing I won't do is just say as a candidate: 'I'm just going to tear up the agreement on the first day.' That sounds great, but maybe you ought to check in with your allies first, maybe you ought to appoint a secretary of state, maybe a secretary of defense. You might want to have your team in place before you take an act like that.

3. Johann von Goethe:

   If your treat an individual ... as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.

4. White House adviser John Podesta:

   I think it’s time to open the book on questions that have remained in the dark, on the question of government investigations of UFOs, we ought to do it, really, because it’s right, we ought to do it because the American people, quite frankly, can handle the truth, and we ought to do it because it’s a law.

5. Aristotle:

   To enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.

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