ought to

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.

Chief U.S. economist Thomas Simons of Jefferies said the bump in new claims over the past two weeks is almost certainly what he calls “noise” and ought to be played down, if not ignored.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Similarly, a newly issued report by the Government Accountability Office External link ought to quell concerns about the quality of employment data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which assembles the monthly jobs report.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

They know what it is and what it ought to look like.

From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026

"At the very least," argued Mr Price, the official "ought to have known that it was incorrect".

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Imagine, three perfectly nice children and their governess attend the theater, which ought to be a cultural and educational experience of the highest order, and they get attacked by pirates instead!

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood