oughtn't

American  

[awt-nt] / ˈɔt nt /

1. contraction of ought not.

---

Usage

See contraction, ought ¹.

Example Sentences

“Mmm, very good, very good! Yes, I oughtn’t worry. Things are going well.”

From Literature

“It’s your long-lost ma and pa, and now you tell me these three precious children are Lumleys, too! I don’t know what to say, except providence is kind, and we oughtn’t ever lose hope, for there’s no telling what the next hour will bring, is there?”

From Literature

Too, she still felt the tiniest bit guilty about having a sixteenth birthday when her three pupils had yet to have one—and oughtn’t she have some time off on her special day as well?

From Literature

“All right. But don’t let anyone know it’s me that needs the HEP, understood? Say it’s for the children, or whatever you please. Next full moon, we start! And don’t say a word to Constance about any of this, either. Blast, why did Mother have to tell her that we oughtn’t have children because of my ‘condition’?

From Literature

“But she looks like she’s lost at sea. Oughtn’t we go over and tow her back to shore, so to speak? Maybe we could jolly her up a bit.”

From Literature