oughta

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UK/ˈɔːtə/US/ˈɔtə/US[ˈɔɾə]cot caught merger/ˈɑtə/

A form of ought to — Indicating duty or obligation.

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Meanings

contraction

alternative orter

  1. abbreviationcolloquialcontractiondialectalContraction of ought to.

    There oughta be a law against that.

    1 more example

    It's not fair to deny me / Of the cross I bear that you gave to me / You, you, you oughta know

    1995, “You Oughta Know”, in Jagged Little Pill, performed by Alanis Morissette
  2. abbreviationcolloquialcontractiondialectalContraction of ought to + have.

    You oughta been here an hour ago.

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

atoghuGhouta
Cite this entry
APA

oughta. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oughta

MLA

“oughta.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oughta. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oughta,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oughta.

Source: oughta on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.