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all right

[ awl rahyt, awl-rahyt ]
/ ˌɔl ˈraɪt, ˈɔl ˈraɪt /
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See synonyms for all right on Thesaurus.com
adverb
yes; very well; OK: All right, I'll go with you.
(used as an interrogative or interrogative tag) OK?; do you agree?: We'll deal with this problem tomorrow, all right?
satisfactorily; acceptably: His work is coming along all right.
without fail; certainly: You'll hear about this, all right!
adjective
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Idioms about all right

    (a) bit of all right, British. quite satisfactory (used as an understatement): The way he saved that child's life was a bit of all right.

Origin of all right

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)”

usage note for all right

See alright.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH all right

all right , alright (see usage note at alright)

Other definitions for all right (2 of 2)

all-right
[ awl-rahyt ]
/ ˈɔlˌraɪt /
adjective Informal.
agreeable, acceptable, or commendable: an all-right plan.

Origin of all-right

First recorded in 1815–25
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to all right

okay, very well, acceptable, adequate, appropriate, average, decent, fair, fit, good, hunky-dory, okey-dokey, passable, proper, satisfying, standard, sufficient, swell, tolerable, unexceptional

How to use all right in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for all right

all right
adjective (postpositive except in slang use)
adequate; satisfactory
unharmed; safe
all-right US slang
  1. acceptablean all-right book
  2. reliablean all-right guy
sentence substitute
very well: used to express assent
adverb
satisfactorily; adequatelythe car goes all right
without doubthe's a bad one, all right
Also: alright

undefined all right

See alright
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with all right

all right
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]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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