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. Terry McAuliffe:

   I mean, come on, it is a simple yes or no question... I think Glenn Youngkin ought to ask Glenn Youngkin running mate, are you vaccinated and if you aren't, why not ?

2. Carly Fiorina:

   I'm going to go into the Oval Office every single week. I'm going to ask the American people to take out their smart phones and I will say, 'Do you think we finally ought to force government to justify every dollar so we can cut any dollar and move any dollar? Press 1 for yes. Press 2 for no,'.

3. Senator Angus King:

   The bill ought to come up on its own and attaching it to the defense authorization is a mistake.

4. Jim McGovern:

   If we have evidence that countries are not complying with U.S. law, that ought to be enough to say we sell these weapons to them no more. Period. End of story.

5. Clarence Thomas:

   I don’t think the process is what it ought to be, i think that these are serious jobs, and they should be serious. I don’t think they should become spectacles.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ought
2. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=ought
3. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=ought