phrases with “ought to” "Ought to" is like saying "should." It means it's a good idea to do something or that it's the right thing to do. For example: "You ought to eat healthy" means "You should eat healthy" because it's good for you. "He ought to apologize" means "He should apologize" because it's the right thing to do. So, when you say "ought to," you're saying what someone should do, but it's not as strong as saying they must do it. | Empowering English Learning