The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word SHOULD
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
H
O
U
L
D
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ought" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ought = should.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SHOULD mean?
SHOULD verb- (modal, auxiliary verb, defective) Used before a verb to indicate the simple future tense in the first person singular or plural.
- Used similarly to indicate determination or obligation in the second and third persons singular or plural.
- Used in questions with the first person singular or plural to suggest a possible future action.
- To owe.
- A statement of what ought to be the case as opposed to what is the case.
- To make a statement of what ought to be true, as opposed to reality.
- (auxiliary) Be obliged to; have an obligation to; indicates that the subject of the sentence has some obligation to execute the sentence predicate or that the speaker has some strong advice but has no authority to enforce it.
- (auxiliary) ought to; speaker's opinion, or advice that an action is correct, beneficial, or desirable.
- (auxiliary) Will be likely to (become or do something); indicates a degree of possibility or probability that the subject of the sentence is likely to execute the sentence predicate.
- (auxiliary, subjunctive) Used as a variant of the present subjunctive.
- (auxiliary) A variant of would when used with first person subjects.