Definition Synonyms
Definition of should - Reverso English Dictionary
Auxiliary verb
1.
grammarexpressing obligation or duty
- You should finish your homework before going out.
2.
advicegiving advice or recommendation
- You should try the new restaurant downtown.
3.
politenessused in polite expressions to show politeness
- I should like to help you.
4.
expectationexpresses a degree of possibility or probability
- The train should arrive soon.
5.
subjunctiveRare expresses a hypothetical or potential stateRare
- If he should call, let me know.
Expressions with should
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
suggests someone should discuss something
You should talk to your teacher about it.
expresses genuine concern about a situation
If the storm gets worse, you should worry.
used when something just said is coincidentally relevant
Funny you should say that, I was just thinking the same thing!
expresses strong agreement or obvious truth
"Was it a good movie?" "I should say so!"
work well enough to solve a problem or complete a task
Adding more salt should do the trick for the recipe.
says someone would be fortunate if something happened
If I get that job, I should be so lucky!
avoid being overly frugal with money
There should be no penny-pinching when it comes to education.
feel grateful for the good things in life
When you're upset, you should count your blessings.
make a wrong move when the right one is needed
He zagged when he should zig and lost the game.
make the wrong move or choice at an important moment
Maria zigged when she should have zagged during the crucial job interview.
make the wrong move or decision in an important moment
Marcus zigged when he should zag during the negotiation and lost the deal.
said when something is sufficient for the purpose
We have eight chairs; that should do for the meeting.
shows strong agreement or obvious confirmation to a statement
"Are you excited for the trip?" "I should think so!"
indicates a missed obligation or duty in the past
She should have attended the meeting.
give general advice against doing an action to people in general
One should not interrupt others while they are speaking.
expression used to highlight information the speaker considers important or relevant
It should be noted that the deadline has been moved to next Monday.
if it becomes necessary in the future
We can call for help should the need arise.
if a certain situation happens or occurs
I will help you should the occasion arise.
expresses doubt about something happening
You think you'll win the lottery? You should be so lucky.
used to express that something is unlikely to happen
Winning the lottery? One should be so lucky.
rhetorical question showing lack of knowledge or involvement
"Why is the sky blue?" "How should I know?"
would not be surprised if something happened or were true
I should not wonder if it rains today.
statement saying something is so bad it ought to be illegal
People who text while driving, there should be a law.
target cost for a product or service
The team set a should-cost to guide negotiations.
Origin of should
Old English, sceolde (ought to)
Terms with should included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
departure
we should leave now
deadline
the time by which a product should arrive
objects
not broken, clean, and working as it should
starting now
says an activity should begin now or very soon
commerce
date when a product should be sold
dismissal
used to indicate someone should leave
business
location where a package or order should be delivered
shipping
place where ordered goods or mail should be brought by a carrier
deadline
time when a project should be completed
time management
time should not be wasted
advice
should or must do something
recommendation
used to say a place should be visited because it is special
duty
used to say someone should do a task now
family customs
suggestion that two people should wed, sometimes planned by relatives
deserved amount
the amount I deserve or should get
choosing location
asking if you should go to your home or their home
not your concern
not something someone should know or be involved with
insignificant
so unimportant that it should be ignored
too expensive
costing much more than it should
money value
decide how much money something should cost
leadership
behave in a way others should follow
value
time is very valuable and should not be wasted
leaving
moment when someone should leave or depart
games
asking which person should act next in a turn-based activity
Examples of should in a sentence
Employees should follow the company guidelines. You should consult a doctor if the pain persists. Students should always do their homework on time. We should be grateful for your assistance. Should you need anything, please let me know. You should see a doctor about that cough.
The weather should clear up by afternoon. Should you need assistance, feel free to ask. Should it rain, the event will be canceled.
View all translations of should
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:devoir, devrais, ...
- German:solltest, sollte, ...
- Italian:dovresti, mi piacerebbe, ...
- Spanish:deberías, quisiera, ...
- Portuguese:deves, dever, ...
- Chinese:应该, 愿意, ...
- Japanese:べき, したいと思います, ...
- Arabic:يَجِب أن, يَنبَغي, ...
- Hebrew:צָרִיךְ, כְּדַאִי, ...
- Russian:должен, следует, ...
- Ukrainian:повинен, варто, ...
- Hindi:चाहिए, बेहतर होगा, ...
icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the