oughtn't've

UK/ˈɔːt(ə)n(t)ə(v)/

contraction

ought not to have

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Meanings

contraction
  1. UKcolloquialcontractiondialectalought not to have

    "Hell, mebbe we oughtn't've done that." Tony was regretful.

    2000, Richard Wright, The long dream

Origin

oughtn't + -'ve.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

oughtn't've. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oughtn't've

MLA

“oughtn't've.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oughtn't've. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oughtn't've,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oughtn't've.

Source: oughtn't've on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.