straight
without a bend, angle, or curve; not curved; direct: a straight path.
exactly vertical or horizontal; in a perfectly vertical or horizontal plane: a straight table.
(of a line) generated by a point moving at a constant velocity with respect to another point.
evenly or uprightly formed or set: straight shoulders.
honest, honorable, or upright, as conduct, dealings, methods, or persons.
Informal. reliable, as a report or information.
right or correct, as reasoning, thinking, or a thinker: Her book on the subject is a cornucopia of sanity, straight thinking, and clear vision.
in the proper order or condition: Things are straight now.
continuous or unbroken: in straight succession.
thoroughgoing or unreserved: a straight Republican.
supporting or cast for all candidates of one political party: to vote a straight ticket.
unmodified or unaltered: a straight comedy.
without change in the original melody or tempo: She does straight songs, with just the piano backing her.
Informal.
free from using narcotics.
not engaged in crime; law-abiding; reformed.
not mixed with anything; undiluted, as whiskey.
Theater. (of acting) straightforward; not striving for effect.
Journalism. written or to be written in a direct and objective manner, with no attempt at individual styling, comment, etc.: She gave me a straight story.Treat it as straight news.
Cards. containing cards in consecutive denominations, as a two, three, four, five, and six, in various suits.
in a straight line: to walk straight.
in an even form or position: pictures hung straight.
in an erect posture: to stand up straight.
directly: to go straight to a place.
honestly, honorably, or virtuously: to live straight.
without intricate involvement; not in a roundabout way; to the point.
in a steady course (often followed byon): to keep straight on after the second traffic light.
into the proper form or condition; in order: to put a room straight.
in possession of the truth or of true ideas: I want to set you straight before you make mistakes.
sold without discount regardless of the quantity bought: Candy bars are twenty cents straight.
Journalism. directly and objectively: Write the circus story straight.
without personal embellishments, additions, etc.: Tell the story straight.Sing the song straight.
(of liquor) served or drunk without ice, a mixer, or water; neat: He drank his whiskey straight.
the condition of being straight.
a straight form or position.
a straight line.
a straight part, as of a racecourse.
Informal.
a heterosexual.
a person who follows traditional or conventional mores.
a person who is free from narcotics.
Chiefly Games. a succession of strokes, plays, etc., which gives a perfect score.
Idioms about straight
go straight, Informal. to live a law-abiding life; no longer engage in crime.
play it straight, Informal. to do something without jokes, tricks, subterfuge, distortions, or the like: a comedian who plays it straight when he crusades against drug abuse.
straight off, without delay; immediately: I told him straight off what I thought about the matter.: Also straight away.
straight up, (of a cocktail) served without ice: a gin martini straight up.
Origin of straight
1Other words for straight
Opposites for straight
Other words from straight
- straight·ly, adverb
- straight·ness, noun
- o·ver·straight, adjective
- o·ver·straight·ly, adverb
- o·ver·straight·ness, noun
- su·per·straight, adjective
- un·straight, adjective
- un·straight·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with straight
- straight , strait
Words Nearby straight
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use straight in a sentence
One person up front, the other standing just behind and to the side, eyes straight ahead.
Wacom Intuos drawing tabletIf you want to go straight to digital, but are not ready to invest in an iPad Pro, then Wacom’s Intuos drawing tablet is a great way to experiment without breaking the bank.
Must-have art supplies to let your inner creative shine | Sandra Gutierrez G. | February 11, 2021 | Popular-ScienceLook to an ergonomic desk chair for great supportThe best ergonomic desk chair will make sitting up straight feel easier than slouching.
It gives us a chance to learn the things that we wouldn’t know going straight into it.
An NBA experiment lets draft prospects skip college, stay home and get paid to play | Michael Lee | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostCompanies will have the real thing, straight from your brain.
New technology can get inside your head. Are you ready? | Laura Sanders | February 11, 2021 | Science News For Students
In straight relationships with an age gap, words like ‘gold-digger’ and ‘trophy wife’ get thrown around.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic | Samantha Allen | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTExcept the Braves did not win 14 straight pennants (they did win 14 straight division titles), and Smoltz is a also Republican.
Conservative Curt Says His Politics, Not His Pitching, Kept Him Out of the Hall of Fame | Ben Jacobs | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTDenied parole nine straight times, he insists he is innocent of the crime for which he was convicted.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside | Justin Rohrlich | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAmazing how people can still haul this one out with a straight face.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game | Michael Tomasky | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTA new book from gay rights activist Marc Solomon sets the record straight about how gay marriage victories were really won.
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality | E.J. Graff | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShe sat straight up in bed, and jerked her hands to her head, and screamed long and terribly.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxThis wasn't at all what he meant to say, and it sounded very ridiculous; but somehow the words wouldn't come straight.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylShe had listened—she had listened intently, looking straight out of the window and without moving.
Confidence | Henry JamesIt mounted straight as a plume for a little way, until it met the cool air of evening which was beginning to fall.
The Bondboy | George W. (George Washington) OgdenThis judicial bent of the child is a curious one and often develops a priggish fondness for setting others morally straight.
Children's Ways | James Sully
British Dictionary definitions for straight
/ (streɪt) /
not curved or crooked; continuing in the same direction without deviating
straightforward, outright, or candid: a straight rejection
even, level, or upright in shape or position
in keeping with the facts; accurate
honest, respectable, or reliable
accurate or logical: straight reasoning
continuous; uninterrupted
(esp of an alcoholic drink) undiluted; neat
not crisp, kinked, or curly: straight hair
correctly arranged; orderly
(of a play, acting style, etc) straightforward or serious
journalism (of a story, article, etc) giving the facts without unnecessary embellishment
US sold at a fixed unit price irrespective of the quantity sold
boxing (of a blow) delivered with an unbent arm: a straight left
(of the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine) in line, rather than in a V-formation or in some other arrangement: a straight eight
a slang word for heterosexual
informal no longer owing or being owed something: if you buy the next round we'll be straight
slang conventional in views, customs, appearance, etc
slang not using narcotics; not addicted
in a straight line or direct course
immediately; at once: he came straight back
in an even, level, or upright position
without cheating, lying, or unreliability: tell it to me straight
continuously; uninterruptedly
US without discount regardless of the quantity sold
(often foll by out) frankly; candidly: he told me straight out
go straight informal to reform after having been dishonest or a criminal
the state of being straight
a straight line, form, part, or position
British a straight part of a racetrack: US name: straightaway
poker
five cards that are in sequence irrespective of suit
a hand containing such a sequence
(as modifier): a straight flush
slang a conventional person
slang a heterosexual person
slang a cigarette containing only tobacco, without marijuana, etc
Origin of straight
1Derived forms of straight
- straightly, adverb
- straightness, noun
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 straight
In addition to the idioms beginning with straight
- straight and narrow, the
- straight as an arrow
- straighten out
- straighten up
- straight face
- straight from the horse's mouth
- straight from the shoulder
- straight goods
- straight off
- straight out
- straight talk
- straight ticket
- straight up
also see:
- (straight) from the horse's mouth
- get something straight
- give it to (someone straight)
- go straight
- keep a straight face
- right (straight) out
- set straight
- shoot straight
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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