alright
Americanadverb
adverb
Spelling
The form alright as a one-word spelling of the phrase all right in all of its senses probably arose by analogy with such words as already and altogether. Although alright is a common spelling in written dialogue and in other types of informal writing, all right is used in more formal, edited writing.
Usage
The form alright, though very common, is still considered by many people to be wrong or less acceptable than all right
Etymology
Origin of alright
First recorded in 1660–70
Explanation
Alright is the informal way of writing "all right." It can stand in for "okay," like the sandwich you had for lunch that was just alright — it was neither great nor terrible. In a nutshell, alright means "fine" or "satisfactory": "Are the kids alright on that Ferris wheel?" You can use it to show that you agree with something someone said: "Oh alright, I get it." This one-word spelling of "all right" is okay when texting with your friends, but don't use it when you are looking to impress, such as in a thank-you letter following a job interview.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Alright, stop the show, guys, there's someone passed out over here," said the US pop star Sombr, bringing his sold-out show at the Brixton Academy to an abrupt halt last week.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
“I don’t even know how to attack it. God, so much to it. Alright, the moment of truth,” Kempczinski says in the clip, before nibbling the sandwich.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026
Alright, I’m paraphrasing, but it’s true: A deluge of new franchise installments hitting theaters every year is as sure of a bet as gambling that the grim reaper’s scythe will be razor-sharp.
From Salon • Jan. 3, 2025
"Alright, it's over and done with, all you need to get is your result and what you get is what you get," Lochlan told BBC News NI.
From BBC • Aug. 23, 2024
“Aren’t you the sweetest thing. Alright, any others?”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
