ought
ought — verb
1. to own or have something as one's property — used in older or formal English ins
to own or have something as one's property — used in older or formal English instead of the modern verb 'possess' or 'own'.
In 1687 Lord Ashworth of Northumberland ought a vast estate along the River Tyne.
archaic transitive: person + ought + property
The old manuscript from Prague ought strange symbols that no one could read.
By the old law, the eldest son ought all the family land.
The Welsh scholar Dewi ought a fine collection of rare books from the 17th century.
- lack
to be without something that one might be expected to have
文法句型
ought + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense survives mainly in historical fiction, legal texts from earlier centuries, and biblical or liturgical language. In modern English, use 'own', 'possess', or 'have' instead.
常見錯誤
2. to be under an obligation to pay or give something to someone — a formal or arch
to be under an obligation to pay or give something to someone — a formal or archaic way of saying 'owe'.
The Portuguese kingdom ought General Vasco a lasting debt of gratitude for his service in the colonies.
double object: ought someone something
I ought the village elders a full explanation of why I had ordered the bridge destroyed.
You ought me an apology for the way you spoke to the ambassador.
Sahil ought his mentor a debt of loyalty that lasted a lifetime.
- owe
the standard modern equivalent; fully current in all registers
文法句型
ought + someone + something
ought + something + to + someone
用法筆記
Like the 'possess' sense, this use is archaic or highly literary. In contemporary English, use 'owe' instead (e.g., 'I owe you an apology'). The past tense is 'ought' (identical form) in the archaic paradigm.
常見錯誤
ought — noun
1. a moral duty or responsibility that a person feels they must carry out, often be
a moral duty or responsibility that a person feels they must carry out, often because of their conscience, role, or a higher principle.
Nikos felt a deep ought to protect the ancient forest from the loggers.
formal noun: a + adjective + ought to + infinitive
The priest reminded the congregation of their ought to show kindness to strangers.
Eliska considered it her sacred ought to care for her elderly mother until the end.
The colonel told his regiment about the ought of honour — a duty that every soldier must follow.
- duty
the closest modern equivalent; broader and more common across all registers
- obligation
slightly more legal or contractual than 'duty'; emphasises binding force
- responsibility
focuses on the person who is expected to act, rather than the abstract principle
- right
a right is something one may claim; a duty is something one must give — they are opposite directions of moral force
文法句型
the ought to + infinitive
one's ought to + noun
用法筆記
This noun sense is rare in everyday speech. Unlike the modern modal 'ought to', the noun does not express probability or mild suggestion; it names a concrete moral obligation.