all right

¹ American  

[awl rahyt, awl rahyt] / ˌɔl ˈraɪt, ˈɔl ˈraɪt /

adverb

1. yes; very well; OK.

   All right, I'll go with you.

2. (used as an interrogative or interrogative tag) OK?; do you agree?.

   We'll deal with this problem tomorrow, all right?

3. satisfactorily; acceptably.

   His work is coming along all right.

4. without fail; certainly.

   You'll hear about this, all right!

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adjective

1. safe; sound.

   Are you all right?

2. satisfactory; acceptable.

   His performance was all right, but I've seen better.

3. Informal. reliable; good.

   That fellow is all right.

idioms

1. (a) bit of all right, quite satisfactory (used as an understatement).

   The way he saved that child's life was a bit of all right.

all-right ² American  

[awl-rahyt] / ˈɔlˌraɪt /

adjective

Informal.

1. agreeable, acceptable, or commendable.

   an all-right plan.

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all right British  

adjective

1. adequate; satisfactory

2. unharmed; safe

3. slang

   1. acceptable

      an all-right book

   2. reliable

      an all-right guy

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1. very well: used to express assent

adverb

1. satisfactorily; adequately

   the car goes all right

2. without doubt

   he's a bad one, all right

all right More Idioms  

1. Completely correct, as in You have a perfect score—your answers are all right . (It could just as well be put as “all your answers are right.”)

2. In proper or working order, in a satisfactory way, as in The engine is running all right now . [Late 1800s] Also see turn out all right .

3. In good health, as in John had the flu, but he's all right now . [Early 1900s]

4. Not injured, safe, as in It was just a minor accident and everyone is all right . [Early 1900s]

5. Very well, yes, as in Do you want to leave now?—All right , or All right, we'll stay home . [First half of 1800s] Also see all right with you .

6. Certainly, without a doubt, as in It's late all right, but it will probably come today . [Mid-1800s]

7. Hurrah! Good for you, as in All right! your team has done it again! [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

8. Also, all-right . Good, satisfactory. For example, This restaurant is all right , or Harry is an all-right guy . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

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Spelling

See alright.

Etymology

Origin of all right¹

First recorded in 1100–50; originally an adverbial phrase; compare Middle English al ri(g)ht “indeed, straightway, at once,” late Old English eall riht “just (as)”

Origin of all-right²

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

England got a send-off all right, resounding boos greeting the final whistle before the players went around applauding thousands of empty red seats and the few fans who had bothered to stay.

From BBC

“Everything all right up there?” someone called from the back.

From Literature

“Things are finally going to be all right. For me, anyway.”

From Literature

“No, no. It’s quite all right,” Clare said, putting on a fake air of calm.

From Literature

As a winger, the full-back's coming through you first one and he's saying, 'first one ref' and he's like, 'yeah all right'.

From BBC

Related Words

• okay
• very well