outright

[out-rahyt, out-rahyt, -rahyt]

adjective

1. complete or total.

   an outright loss.

2. downright or unqualified.

   an outright refusal.

3. without further payments due, restrictions, or qualifications.

   an outright sale of the car.

4. Archaic.,  directed straight out or on.

adverb

1. completely; entirely.

   Synonyms: thoroughly, altogether, utterly, downright

2. without restraint, reserve, or concealment; openly.

   Tell me outright what's bothering you.

3. at once; instantly.

   to be killed outright.

4. without further payments due, restrictions, or qualifications.

   to own the house outright.

5. Archaic.,  straight out or ahead; directly onward.

outright

adjective

1. without qualifications or limitations

   outright ownership

2. complete; total

   an outright lie

3. straightforward; direct

   an outright manner

adverb

1. without restrictions

   buy outright

2. without reservation or concealment

   ask outright

3. instantly

   he was killed outright

4. obsolete,  straight ahead or out

Other Word Forms

• outrightness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of outright¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; out, right

Example Sentences

Other smaller businesses that didn’t express outright anxiety are at least doing some things differently.

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Also, for outright long options, roll if they become 8 points in the money.

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Taking a look at the bigger picture for oil, Hodes said that “supply growth has really been the story of the oil market in 2025” — not an outright weak global economy.

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In 2018, Sebastopol leaders created an outright ban of certain chain businesses — particularly restaurants and hotels — from its downtown.

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“With mortgage rates stubbornly elevated and affordability at multi-decade lows, the market appears to be settling into a new equilibrium of minimal price growth-or, in some regions, outright decline,” Godec said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• absolute 
• downright 
• pure 
• unequivocal 
• unmitigated 
• utter 
• wholesale