ought

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We ought to hide our heads in a bag. It's got to stop," Kennedy said ahead of the vote.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

It starts from a belief that these people are operating in a world we don’t understand, and that we ought to leave alone, far from our base everyday politics and civic concerns.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

“In retrospect maybe they ought to have tightened a little sooner and a little more,” Binder said.

From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026

Campaigns have long sent signals to independent expenditure committees about the messages they would like to see highlighted, the venues they hope to see the communications and the voters who ought to be targeted.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

She knew she ought to return to their room at once and relieve poor Mrs. Apple of the children’s care.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood