should have
Regret not doing
Should have expresses that something was advisable or expected but didn't happen: You should have called me.
It conveys missed obligation, regret, or hindsight judgment: I should have known better.
Often contracted to should've in speech, which sounds like "should of"—a common spelling error.
They should have won that game.
- oughtExpresses duty or obligation
- regretSorrow over past actions
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- paid attentionActively focused awareness
- missedFailed to reach
missed opportunity · mistake · blame · second guessing · guilt · remorse · wish · obligation · duty · expected · known better · supposed · failure · opportunity · lesson · late · sorry · responsibility
- prioritypriority, top priority, high priority, low-priority, first priority
- modal phrasescan do, could be, may be, might be, must be
- modal verbscan, could, may, might, must
- conditionalsif, then, if clause, if clauses, else