should
should Lexical Profile
should Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To be obliged, duty-bound, or well-advised to do something (used as a modal auxiliary to express duty, recommendation, or what is considered right or best).
"You should review the contract carefully before signing it."
To be likely or expected to happen or be the case (used as a modal auxiliary to indicate probability or expectation).
"The train should arrive at the station within ten minutes."
To happen to do something or be the case hypothetically (used as a modal auxiliary in conditional clauses).
"If you should need any further assistance, please let the reception desk know."
British To be inclined or disposed to do something under certain conditions (used with 'I' or 'we' in polite requests or tentative statements in place of 'would').
"I should like to thank everyone who contributed to the research project."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although historically the past tense of 'shall', 'should' functions primarily as an independent modal auxiliary verb in modern English, taking a bare infinitive without 'to' and lacking infinitive, participle, or third-person singular '-s' forms.
• Rhymes for should
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'sceolde', the past tense of 'sculan' (to owe, be obliged), ultimately from Proto-Germanic '*skulana'.