ought
modal verb[+ to infinitive]
us/ɔt/present tenseoughtoughtmodal verb[+ to infinitive](DUTY)
used to say that it isnecessaryordesirabletoperformtheactionexpressedin theverb:
We ought tocleanup before we gohome.
She really ought toapologize.
oughtmodal verb[+ to infinitive](PROBABLE)
used to say that theactionexpressedin theverbisprobableorexpected:
He ought to behomeby seven o’clock.
Thecurtainsought to bereadyonMonday.
At hisage, he ought to haveknownbetter.