OUGHT in a Sentence

Learn OUGHT from example sentences, some of them are from classic books. These examples are selected from a corpus with 300,000 sentences, including classic works and current mainstream media. Some sentences also link to their contexts.

For OUGHT, below is one of 258 sentences:
Every actor ought to know his lines backwards before he goes on stage, as nervousness may make him forgetful.

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 Meanings and Examples of OUGHT
Definition Example Sentence Classic Sentence
ought
 v.  indicating duty or correctness; indicating something probable;
Classic Sentence: (210 in 15 pages)
1  There I stayed for some time at a private hotel in the Strand, leading a comfortless, meaningless existence, and spending such money as I had, considerably more freely than I ought.
A Study In Scarlet By Arthur Conan Doyle
Context  Highlight   In PART I: CHAPTER I. MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES
2  I ought to be more case-hardened after my Afghan experiences.
A Study In Scarlet By Arthur Conan Doyle
Context  Highlight   In PART I: CHAPTER V. OUR ADVERTISEMENT BRINGS A VISITOR
3  He would end his remarks, he said, by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted, and ought to subsist, between Animal Farm and its neighbours.
Animal Farm By George Orwell
Context  Highlight   In Chapter X
4  If I should ask any other question that may happen to have that result, give me credit, if you please, for being in ignorance how to speak to you as I ought.
Hard Times By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In BOOK 2: CHAPTER VI
5  It is the sort of thing you want, and ought to take, sir.
Hard Times By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In BOOK 2: CHAPTER VII
6  Since you are of opinion that she ought to have what she wants, I recommend you to provide it for her.
Hard Times By Charles Dickens
Context  Highlight   In BOOK 3: CHAPTER III
7  What a man of mould may," answered Athelstane, "providing it be what a man of manhood ought.
Ivanhoe By Walter Scott
Context  Highlight   In CHAPTER XXVII
8  'This is the last moment when I ought to hate you,' she said resentfully.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 3
9  'If you have the proper sort of emotion or sympathy with a woman, you ought to sleep with her,' said May.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 4
10  No doubt water ought not to be so wet as it is; it overdoes it in wetness.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 6
11  The fact that things ought to be something else than what they are, is not my department.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 6
12  Connie hesitated, she ought to go.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 6
13  'I do think sufficient civilization ought to eliminate a lot of the physical disabilities,' said Clifford.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 7
14  She ought not to listen with this queer rabid curiosity.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 9
15  He ought never to have been down pit.
Lady Chatterley's Lover By D H Lawrence
Context  Highlight   In Chapter 11
Example Sentence: (48 in 4 pages)
16  A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.
17  Any change ought not to be made without the general concurrence of all concerned.
18  The virtue of a man ought to be measured not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his everyday conduct.
19  Julian ought to have resigned, then he'd have come out of it with some credit.
20  Everyone ought to rarefy his spiritual life.
21  You ought to give a better example to the children.
22  They ought to finish ploughing the south field by tomorrow.
23  You ought to smarten up and have a haircut before the interview.
24  She was misplaced in that job; she ought to be doing something more creative.
25  Maybe we ought to go down to the library and check it out.
26  The students ought not to be compelled to go back of academic titles to find out what they mean.
27  If he started out at nine, he ought to be here by now.
28  Political dishonesty ought to be plucked up by the roots.
29  Car manufacturers ought to produce vehicles which are more secure against theft.
30  Every actor ought to know his lines backwards before he goes on stage, as nervousness may make him forgetful.