alright

American  

[awl-rahyt] / ɔlˈraɪt /

adverb

1. all right.

---

alright British  

/ ɔːlˈraɪt /

adverb

1. a variant spelling of all right

---

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

See Examples For:

alright

You need to have a car that's alright over bumps, that's not trying to kill you every time.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

"I couldn't keep him in the house, so at 2am or 3am I was having to follow him to make sure he was alright."

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

"I am praying. Praying that she is alright," she said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

Matthew McConaughey trademarked his taffylike delivery of “Alright alright alright.”

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

“Go home and grow up. You alright, kid?”

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols