outright

American  

[out-rahyt, out-rahyt, -rahyt] / ˈaʊtˌraɪt, ˈaʊtˈraɪt, -ˌraɪt /

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.

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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 British  

adjective

1. without qualifications or limitations

   outright ownership

2. complete; total

   an outright lie

3. straightforward; direct

   an outright manner

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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

Etymology

Origin of outright

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

Explanation

If you do something outright, you do it in a wholehearted, unrestricted way. If you declare outright that you’re never eating another cupcake, that’s the end of that. If you eat one anyway, you told an outright lie. If an event is cancelled outright, there's no question about it being rescheduled, and if you buy a new car outright, you pay for it all at once, instead of making monthly payments. Outright means direct and immediate — whether it's an adverb or an adjective: "The child's outright refusal to put on his shoes exasperated his babysitter." It can also mean “right away.” If you step on a slug, you’ll probably kill it outright. Ew.

Example Sentences

That, however, was offset some by wholesale food inputs printing an outright decline of 0.3% on the month.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

This compound, called guanidinoethylbenzylamino imidazopyridine acetate, works by preventing the growth of bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis rather than killing them outright.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

And yet, the show’s scale and the fame of the people in it may insulate it from outright failure.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

"The bigger concern for India's economy is outright shortage," say Shilan Shah and Mark Williams of Capital Economics.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

That he couldn’t outright dismiss Mr. Flux’s “opportunity,” in spite of the consequences for Fry, Logan County, and beyond, said a lot.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

Related Words

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