Dictionary

oughta en · X

Pronunciation

• [ˈɔɾə] (General-American)
• /ˈɑtə/ (cot-caught-merger)
• [ˈɑɾə] (cot-caught-merger)
• /ˈɔːtə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɔtə/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, contraction, dialectal) Contraction of ought to.
   alt of ought to
   • There oughta be a law against that.
   • 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. (abbreviation, alt-of, colloquial, contraction, dialectal) Contraction of ought to + have.
   alt of ought to
   • You oughta been here an hour ago.

Forms

Relateds

to