Standard Lemma guide

oughtn't

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈɔː.tn̩t/
  • UK: /ɔːnt/
  • US: /ˈɔt.n̩t/
  • US: /ˈɑt.n̩t/ cot-cought merger
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔːnt
  • rhymes with -ɔːtənt
  • rhymes with -ɔtn̩t
  • rhymes with -ɑtn̩t
  • CMU ARPABET: AO1 T AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

(US, Philippines, dated, rare) ought not (negative auxiliary).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Commonwealth, Ireland, UK

Examples

  • We ought to wake dad, oughtn't we?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From ought + -n't.