Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » right

right

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Right means correctly, completely, thoroughly or exactly. (adverb)

An example of right is when you give 4 as the answer to 2+2.
An example of right is when you stand directly next to your friend.
An example of right is when a tornado took a roof off a house.

To right is to put back into the proper upright position. (verb)

An example of right is when you pick up a glass that tipped over and place it on the table with the bottom of the glass on the tablecloth.

Right means something is the correct, proper or moral choice or something that is true or correct. (noun)

An example of right is honesty.
An example of right is an answer that is correct.

See right in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

Obsolete not curved; straight: now only in mathematics: a right line
1. formed by, or with reference to, a straight line or plane perpendicular to a base: a right angle
2. having the axis perpendicular to the base: a right cylinder
in accordance with justice, law, morality, etc.; upright; virtuous: right conduct
1. in accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc.; correct; true: the right answer
2. correct in thought, statement, or action: to be right in one's answer
1. fitting; appropriate; suitable
2. most convenient or favorable
3. reputable; approved: she associates with the right people
designating the side, surface, etc. meant to be seen; designating the finished, principal, or upper side or surface: the right side of cloth
1. sound; normal: in one's right mind
2. mentally sound or normal; sane: not quite right
having sound health or good spirits
in a satisfactory condition, or in good order: to make things right again
1. designating or of that side of one's body which is toward the east when one faces north, the side of the more-used hand in most people
2. designating or of the corresponding side of anything
3. closer to the right side of a person directly before and facing the thing mentioned or understood: the top right drawer of a desk
of the side or bank of a river on the right of a person facing downstream
of the political right; conservative or reactionary
Archaic not spurious or sham; genuine; real

noun

what is right, or just, lawful, morally good, proper, correct, etc.
1. that which a person has a just claim to; power, privilege, etc. that belongs to a person by law, nature, or tradition: the right of free speech
2. an interest in property, real or intangible
the true or correct report, as of a happening: with the
1. all or part of the right side
2. what is on the right side
3. a direction or location on the right side: often with the
4. a turn toward the right side: take a right at the fork
☆ Baseball right field
Boxing
1. the right hand
2. a blow delivered with the right hand
Finance
1. the privilege given to a company's stockholders of buying shares in a new issue of stock, usually at a price below the current market price
2. the negotiable certificate indicating this privilege
Politics a conservative or reactionary position, esp. one varying from moderate capitalism to fascism, or a party or group advocating this: often with the: from the position of the seats occupied in some European legislatures

adverb

in a straight line; straight; directly: go right home
1. properly; fittingly
2. favorably, conveniently, or well
completely; thoroughly: soaked right through his coat
exactly; precisely: right here, right now
☆ without pause or delay; immediately: come right down
according to law, justice, etc.; in an upright way
correctly or accurately
on or toward the right hand or side
very; extremely [to know something right well]: informal except in certain titles: the right honorable, the right reverend

interjection

agreed; OK; I understand

transitive verb

to put in or restore to an upright or proper position: to right a capsized boat
to correct; make conform with fact, etc.
to put in order; set right: to right a room
to do justice to (a person); make amends to
to make amends for (a wrong, etc.); redress or avenge

intransitive verb

to get into or resume an upright or proper position

See right in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(rīt)

adjective right·er, right·est

Conforming with or conformable to justice, law, or morality: do the right thing and confess.
In accordance with fact, reason, or truth; correct: the right answer.
Fitting, proper, or appropriate: It is not right to leave the party without saying goodbye.
Most favorable, desirable, or convenient: the right time to act.
In or into a satisfactory state or condition: put things right.
In good mental or physical health or order.
Intended to be worn or positioned facing outward or toward an observer: the right side of the dress; made sure that the right side of the fabric was visible.
a. Of, belonging to, located on, or being the side of the body to the south when the subject is facing east.
b. Of, relating to, directed toward, or located on the right side.
c. Located on the right side of a person facing downstream: the right bank of a river.
often Right Of or belonging to the political or intellectual right.
Mathematics
a. Formed by or in reference to a line or plane that is perpendicular to another line or plane.
b. Having the axis perpendicular to the base: right cone.
c. Having a right angle: a right triangle.
Straight; uncurved; direct: a right line.
Archaic Not spurious; genuine.

noun

That which is just, morally good, legal, proper, or fitting.
a. The direction or position on the right side.
b. The right side.
c. The right hand.
d. A turn in the direction of the right hand or side.
often Right
a. The people and groups who advocate the adoption of conservative or reactionary measures, especially in government and politics. Also called right wing.
b. The opinion of those advocating such measures.
Sports A blow delivered by a boxer's right hand.
Baseball Right field.
a. Something that is due to a person or governmental body by law, tradition, or nature.
b. Something, especially humane treatment, claimed to be due to animals by moral principle.
A just or legal claim or title.
a. A stockholder's privilege of buying additional stock in a corporation at a special price, usually at par or at a price below the current market value.
b. The negotiable certificate on which this privilege is indicated.
c. A privilege of subscribing for a particular stock or bond. Often used in the plural.

adverb

Toward or on the right.
In a straight line; directly: went right to school.
In the proper or desired manner; well: The jacket doesn't fit right.
Exactly; just: The accident happened right over there.
Immediately: called me right after dinner.
Completely; quite: The icy wind blew right through me.
According to law, morality, or justice.
Accurately; correctly: answered the question right.
Chiefly Southern U.S. Considerably; very: They have a right nice place.
Used as an intensive: kept right on going.
Used in titles: The Right Reverend Jane Smith.

verb right·ed, right·ing, rights

verb, transitive

To put in or restore to an upright or proper position: They righted their boat.
To put in order or set right; correct: measures designed to right generations of unfair labor practices.
To make reparation or amends for; redress: right a wrong.

verb, intransitive

To regain an upright or proper position.

Related Forms:

rightˈer noun

Our Living Language Speakers of Standard English mainly restrict the use of adverbial right to modify adverbs of space or time, as in She's right over there or Do it right now! No such restriction applies in Southern vernacular speech, where right can be used to intensify the meaning of many adjectives and adverbs, as in He's right nice or You talk right fast. This broader use of right is attested as far back as the 15th century and is found in the works of Shakespeare and other great writers. Thus, what appears to be neglect of Standard English rules is actually the retention of a once-proper historical usage. • The use of right as an adverb indicating directness, completeness, or general intensity seems to be related to the use of right in a more concrete sense to refer to something that is perfectly straight or perpendicular to something else, as in right angle. A similar connection between concrete and metaphorical meaning lies behind the Southern adverbial usage of plumb, as in He fell plumb asleep as an indicator of completeness or totality. See Note at smart.

See right in Ologies