- past tense form of shall.
should
Americanauxiliary verb
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must; ought (used to indicate duty, propriety, or expediency).
You should not do that.
All of this is irresponsible alarmism and should be dismissed as such.
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(used to express an expectation).
They should arrive around dinner time.
The paper you need should be in the drawer.
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(used to express a correction).
In your first sentence, that semicolon should be a comma.
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(used to express a potential future event or condition).
Were he to arrive, I should be pleased.
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would (used to make a statement less direct or blunt).
I should think you would apologize.
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simple past tense of shall.
noun
verb
Usage
Should has, as its most common meaning in modern English, the sense ought as in I should go to the graduation, but I don't see how I can. However, the older sense of the subjunctive of shall is often used with I or we to indicate a more polite form than would: I should like to go, but I can't. In much speech and writing, should has been replaced by would in contexts of this kind, but it remains in formal English when a conditional subjunctive is used: should he choose to remain, he would be granted asylum
Commonly Confused
Rules similar to those for choosing between shall and will have long been advanced for should and would, but again the rules have had little effect on usage. In most constructions, would is the auxiliary chosen regardless of the person of the subject: If our allies would support the move, we would abandon any claim to sovereignty. You would be surprised at the complexity of the directions. Because the main function of should in modern American English is to express duty, necessity, etc. ( You should get your flu shot before winter comes ), its use for other purposes, as to form a subjunctive, can produce ambiguity, at least initially: I should get my flu shot if I were you. Furthermore, should seems an affectation to many Americans when used in certain constructions quite common in British English: Had I been informed, I should (American would ) have called immediately. I should (American would ) really prefer a different arrangement. As with shall and will, most educated native speakers of American English do not follow the textbook rule in making a choice between should and would. See also shall.
Synonym Usage
See must 1.
Etymology
Origin of should
Middle English sholde, Old English sc(e)olde; see shall
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pope Leo XIV's health should not be taken "for granted", a British senior Vatican official told the BBC.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
The organisation, which is responsible for minimising strategic risks including digital, said that beyond the data collected, Norway should be wary of excessive dependence on a single country.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
Krems argued in court that his client should be freed because his health is deteriorating in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Families should anticipate these disparities and discuss them openly before they ignite resentments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
"Andrew should come home with me to get his money."
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
