right
Americanadjective
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in accordance with what is good, proper, or just.
right conduct.
-
in conformity with fact, reason, truth, or some standard or principle; correct.
the right solution;
the right answer.
- Antonyms:
- wrong, untrue, incorrect, inaccurate, false
-
correct in judgment, opinion, or action.
-
fitting or appropriate; suitable.
to say the right thing at the right time.
- Antonyms:
- infelicitous, incongruous, wrong, unsuitable, unseemly, unfit, unapt, inapt, inappropriate
-
most convenient, desirable, or favorable.
Omaha is the right location for a meatpacking firm.
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being, relating to, or located on or nearest to the side opposite to where a person’s heart normally is; the direction toward that side (opposed to left).
First base is on the right side of the infield as viewed from home plate.
He’s deaf in his right ear.
-
in a satisfactory state; in good order.
to put things right.
-
sound, sane, or normal.
to be in one's right mind;
She wasn't right in her head when she made the will.
-
in good health or spirits.
I don't feel quite right today.
-
principal, front, or upper.
the right side of cloth.
- Synonyms:
- obverse
-
Often Right of or relating to political conservatives or their beliefs.
-
socially approved, desirable, or influential.
to go to the right schools and know the right people.
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formed by or with reference to a perpendicular.
a right angle.
-
straight.
a right line.
-
Geometry. having an axis perpendicular to the base.
a right cone.
-
Mathematics. pertaining to an element of a set that has a given property when placed on the right of an element or set of elements of the given set.
a right identity.
-
genuine; authentic.
the right owner.
- Synonyms:
- rightful
noun
-
rights
plural
-
a just claim or title, whether legal, prescriptive, or moral.
You have a right to say what you please.
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Sometimes rights that which is due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantees, moral principles, etc..
women's rights;
Freedom of speech is a right of all Americans.
-
adherence or obedience to moral and legal principles and authority.
-
that which is morally, legally, or ethically proper.
to know right from wrong.
- Antonyms:
- inequity
-
a moral, ethical, or legal principle considered as an underlying cause of truth, justice, morality, or ethics.
-
Sometimes rights the interest or ownership a person, group, or business has in property.
He has a 50-percent right in a silver mine.
The author controls the screen rights for the book.
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the property itself or its value.
-
Finance.
-
the privilege, usually preemptive, that accrues to the owners of the stock of a corporation to subscribe to additional shares of stock or securities convertible into stock at an advantageous price.
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Often rights the privilege of subscribing to a specified amount of a stock or bond issue, or the document certifying this privilege.
-
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that which is in accord with fact, reason, propriety, the correct way of thinking, etc.
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the state or quality or an instance of being correct.
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the side opposite to where the observer’s heart is, or something on that side; the direction toward that side.
Turn to the right.
In the photo below, my sister is on the right.
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a right-hand turn.
Make a right at the top of the hill.
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the portion toward the right, as of troops in battle formation.
Our right crumbled.
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(in a pair) the member that is shaped for, used by, or situated on the right side.
Is this shoe a left or a right?
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the right hand.
Jab with your left and punch with your right.
-
none the right or the Right
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the complex of individuals or organized groups opposing change in a liberal direction and usually advocating maintenance of the established social, political, or economic order.
-
the position held by these people.
The Depression led to a movement away from the Right.
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Usually Right the part of a legislative assembly, especially in continental Europe, that is situated on the right side of the presiding officer and that is customarily assigned to members of the legislature who hold more conservative or reactionary views than the rest of the members.
-
the members of such an assembly who sit on the Right.
-
Boxing. a blow delivered by the right hand.
a right to the jaw.
-
Baseball. right field.
adverb
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in a straight or direct line; straight; directly.
right to the bottom;
to come right home.
-
quite or completely; all the way.
My hat was knocked right off.
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right after dinner.
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exactly; precisely.
right here.
-
correctly or accurately.
to guess right.
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uprightly or righteously.
to obey one's conscience and live right.
-
properly or fittingly.
to behave right.
- Synonyms:
- appropriately
-
advantageously, favorably, or well.
to turn out right.
-
toward the right hand; on or to the right.
to keep right;
to turn right.
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Archaic or Dialect. very; extremely.
a right fine day.
-
very (used in certain titles).
the right reverend.
verb (used with object)
-
rights,
present (3rd person singular)
-
righted,
past participle, past
-
righting
present participle
-
to put in or restore to an upright position.
to right a fallen lamp.
-
to put in proper order, condition, or relationship.
to right a crookedly hung picture.
-
to bring into conformity with fact; correct.
to right one's point of view.
-
to do justice to; avenge.
to be righted in court.
-
to redress, as a wrong.
verb (used without object)
-
rights,
present (3rd person singular)
-
righted,
past participle, past
-
righting
present participle
idioms
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right and left, on every side; in all directions.
throwing his clothes right and left;
members resigning right and left.
-
in one's own right, by reason of one's own ability, ownership, etc.; in or of oneself, as independent of others.
He is a rich man in his own right.
-
in the right, having the support of reason or law; justified; correct.
It pays to be stubborn when one is in the right.
-
to rights, into proper condition or order.
to set a room to rights.
-
right on, exactly right; precisely.
-
by rights, in fairness; justly.
You should by rights have been asked your opinion on the matter.
-
too right,
-
(used as an expression of emphatic agreement.)
-
okay.
“Can we meet tonight?” “Too right.”
-
-
right away / off, without hesitation; immediately.
She made a good impression right off.
adjective
-
in accordance with accepted standards of moral or legal behaviour, justice, etc
right conduct
-
in accordance with fact, reason, or truth; correct or true
the right answer
-
appropriate, suitable, fitting, or proper
the right man for the job
-
most favourable or convenient; preferred
the right time to act
-
in a satisfactory condition; orderly
things are right again now
-
indicating or designating the correct time
the clock is right
-
correct in opinion or judgment
-
sound in mind or body; healthy or sane
-
(usually prenominal) of, designating, or located near the side of something or someone that faces east when the front is turned towards the north
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(usually prenominal) worn on a right hand, foot, etc
-
(sometimes capital) of, designating, supporting, belonging to, or relating to the political or intellectual right (see sense 39)
-
(sometimes capital) conservative or reactionary
the right wing of the party
-
geometry
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formed by or containing a line or plane perpendicular to another line or plane
-
having the axis perpendicular to the base
a right circular cone
-
straight
a right line
-
-
relating to or designating the side of cloth worn or facing outwards
-
informal (intensifier)
a right idiot
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sane
-
informal that's all right; not to worry
-
-
in favour with
you'd better stay on the right side of him
-
younger than
she's still on the right side of fifty
-
adverb
-
informal an exclamation of agreement
-
in accordance with correctness or truth; accurately
to guess right
-
in the appropriate manner; properly
do it right next time!
-
in a straight line; directly
right to the top
-
in the direction of the east from the point of view of a person or thing facing north
-
absolutely or completely; utterly
he went right through the floor
-
all the way
the bus goes right to the city centre
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without delay; immediately or promptly
I'll be right over
-
exactly or precisely
right here
-
in a manner consistent with a legal or moral code; justly or righteously
do right by me
-
in accordance with propriety; fittingly or suitably
it serves you right
-
to good or favourable advantage; well
it all came out right in the end
-
(esp in religious titles) most or very
right reverend
-
informal (intensifier)
I'm right glad to see you
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on all sides; from every direction
-
informal as the first in a series; to begin with
noun
-
any claim, title, etc, that is morally just or legally granted as allowable or due to a person
I know my rights
-
anything that accords with the principles of legal or moral justice
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the fact or state of being in accordance with reason, truth, or accepted standards (esp in the phrase in the right )
-
an obligation or duty
you had a right to lock the door
-
the right side, direction, position, area, or part
the right of the army
look to the right
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(often capital) the supporters or advocates of social, political, or economic conservatism or reaction, based generally on a belief that things are better left unchanged (opposed to radical or left )
-
boxing
-
a punch with the right hand
-
the right hand
-
-
finance
-
(often plural) the privilege of a company's shareholders to subscribe for new issues of the company's shares on advantageous terms
-
the negotiable certificate signifying this privilege
-
-
properly; justly
by rights you should be in bed
-
having a claim or title oneself rather than through marriage or other connection
a peeress in her own right
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consistent with justice, correctness, or orderly arrangement
he put the matter to rights
verb
-
(also intr) to restore to or attain a normal, esp an upright, position
the raft righted in a few seconds
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to make (something) accord with truth or facts; correct
-
to restore to an orderly state or condition; put right
-
to make reparation for; compensate for or redress (esp in the phrase right a wrong )
interjection
Usage
Right in the sense of “very, extremely” is either archaic or dialectal. It is most common in informal speech and writing: It's right cold this morning. The editor knew right well where the story had originated.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
rightsimple
-
rightssimple
-
have rightedperfect
-
has rightedperfect
-
am rightingprogressive
-
are rightingprogressive
-
is rightingprogressive
-
have been rightingperfect progressive
-
has been rightingperfect progressive
Past
-
rightedsimple
-
had rightedperfect
-
was rightingprogressive
-
were rightingprogressive
-
had been rightingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of right
First recorded before 900; (noun and adjective) Middle English; Old English reht, riht; cognate with Dutch, German recht, Old Norse rēttr, Gothic raihts; akin to Latin rēctus, Old Irish recht “law,” Greek orektós “upright”; (verb) Middle English righten, Old English rihtan, cognate with Old Frisian riuchta, German richten, Old Norse rētta; (adverb) Middle English; Old English rihte
Explanation
Right is a direction, the opposite of left. Most people are right-handed. Right is also correct: the opposite of wrong. Many times this word has something to do with what is good, proper, or correct, like the right thing to do. You can get the right answer to a question. You can be morally correct or "in the right." You can right a wrong by making up for an injustice. People have rights: in the U.S., we are guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are called the "Bill of Rights."
Vocabulary lists containing right
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 2
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Election Lingo
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The ACT Reading Test: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 2
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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.
See Examples For:
“I think that somebody has a right to keep them away if they’re going to write false stories all the time.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Most people can’t squat 600 pounds, but everyone can have a mantra, right?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
“This is the opportunity for CEO Doustdar to take control of the narrative and tell us how he intends to right the ship,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan David Seigerman told investors on Thursday.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
She waived her legal right to anonymity to speak publicly about this for the first time.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
It’s easy to tell by the look on his face that he’d rather be anywhere else right now.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
In a joint statement on Monday, they said they were pursuing legal action to "protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports".
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Some musicians argue the deals can’t cover rights the labels don’t control.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
When the director mentioned “Resident Evil,” Lee promptly secured the rights, attached Cregger to write and direct, and generated interest from multiple studios before selling it to Sony.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Human rights groups, including the UN, consider the G-15 prisoners of conscience and have been calling for their release.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
Students also involved themselves in the movement to gain equal rights, in voter registration and participation drives, and in state and national politics.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
The time has never been righter, it seems to me.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 16, 2022
Cat burglar, con artist, master of disguise, Lupin is also a brilliant detective and righter of wrongs.
From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2021
“As a solver of mysteries and a righter of historical wrongs, I live for this stuff,” Zax said.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 15, 2019
Nevertheless, we still tend to fixate on the things they got right, often with fingers crossed, dreaming that their thoughts might help us make the world righter still.
From Slate ● Jan. 24, 2018
She hug me around my neck, say, “You’re righter than Miss Taylor.”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
"I don't fancy her chances much either way," said everyone else, and they were probably the rightest of all.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 11, 2010
It's got pictorial dazzle and an uncommon generosity of spirit, and it ends with the sweetest, rightest shot of the movie year.
From Time Magazine Archive
Ali meanwhile had managed the rightest kind of job as an assistant to Fashion Photographer Melvin Sokolsky.
From Time Magazine Archive
It’s the properest, and rightest, and most convenient, and it’s the name he must have,” he added firmly.
From True Blue by William Henry Giles Kingston
Oh! at least it is a comfort that Alick was really the kindest and rightest!
From Clever Woman of the Family by Charlotte Mary Yonge
"I want to thank all of the young campaigners who have been bravely raising their voices about this, and whose dedication will lead to seeing this wrong righted," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
That odd gap between single-stock and benchmark volatility finally righted itself during a recent broad-based selloff, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
Yamamoto righted himself by retiring the next 11 batters he faced, but the Dodgers lost for the third time in four games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
He righted the ship with a birdie at the par-five 13th, where he missed the green but chipped to three feet from dense rough well below the green.
From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026
Several times the machine threatened to tip over, but it ground on relentlessly and righted itself.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
Nike says it is focused on righting the ship, including by introducing new Chinese-designed products and pushing the brand in a more premium direction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
“The quarter prior revealed some success in righting the ship in the U.S., but significantly worse performance in China, which is becoming a much smaller part of the business,” she added.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
The former president didn’t pretend that righting the ship would be easy.
From Salon ● Dec. 2, 2025
After five consecutive losses, several weeks of mounting frustration, and the most painful collapse imaginable the night before, the Dodgers took a crucial first step toward righting their sinking ship on Sunday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2025
I hit the dirt in a hundred sprawling postures, each time righting myself in an instant and skittering to the safety of a tree, tractor or fence, in case the horse was feeling vengeful.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
