Sekirov Dictionary

should

/ʃʊd/

verb 14
noun 1
forms 5
phrases 1

verb14

•
used before a verb to tell someone to do something, but less strongly than "must"
- You should never drink and drive.
- The law is clear that you should always wear a seat belt.
Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable.
•
Used to give advice or opinion that an action is, or would have been, beneficial or desirable.
- You should go and see that film. I think you'll enjoy it.
- Should we go and see the police, do you think?
•
In questions, asks what is correct, proper, desirable, etc.
- What do you think? What should I do?
Ought to; expressing expectation.
•
Indicates that something is expected to have happened or to be the case now.
- They should have finished by now; I'll call them to check.
- My fruit trees should be in flower, but the cold spring has set them back.
•
Will be likely to (become or do something); indicates a degree of possibility or probability that the stated thing will happen or be true in the future.
- They should have it finished by Friday.
- When you press this button, the pilot flame should ignite.
•
Used to form a variant of the present subjunctive, expressing a state or action that is hypothetical, potential, mandated, etc.
- If I should be late, I should hope that you are prepared to go on without me.
- Should you need extra blankets, you will find them in the closet.
•
(informal) With verbs such as 'see' or 'hear', usually in the second person, used to point out something remarkable in either a good or bad way.
- You should see his new apartment. It's like a palace!
- If you think her piano playing is bad, you should hear her sing!
An alternative to would with first person subjects.
•
Used to impart a tentative, conjectural or polite nuance.
- I should imagine that they have arrived by now.
- I should think you would apologize.
•
(formal, literary) Used to express a conditional outcome.
- If I had not been so tired, I should have laughed heartily.
•
Used to express what the speaker would do in another person's situation, as a means of giving a suggestion or recommendation.
- It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I should write and complain.
•
To suggest (that someone ought to do something, or that something ought to be the case) by, or as if by, using the word should.
- I'd prefer that she stop shoulding me. I prefer that I stop shoulding me. I prefer that I stop shoulding her. — 2008

noun1

•
Something that ought to be the case as opposed to already being the case.
- When the golf ball is there, the whole self-interference package — the hopes, worries, and fears; the thoughts on how-to and how-not-to; the woulds, the coulds, and the shoulds — is there too. — 1996

forms

shoulded · shoulda · shoulding · shoulds · shouldst

Phrases with should

should on
To impose judgment on (oneself or others) by telling them what they should do.

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