Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

straight-ahead

American  
[strayt-uh-hed] / ˈstreɪt əˌhɛd /

adjective

  1. not deviating from what is usual or expected; conventional or traditional; standard.

    a straight-ahead novel with a happy ending.


Etymology

Origin of straight-ahead

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Price delivers “Oval Room” with the same steely, straight-ahead tone that Foley had, offering a very faithful reading of the original — but that’s not meant as an insult or a diminishment of Price’s approach.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

On exploring her gender identity, Lorde says she felt "so trapped and so tight in this very kind of straight-ahead femininity."

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2025

She has also been accused of cultural appropriation for recording straight-ahead salsa tunes — an unfair accusation to this writer, considering that she is a dedicated student and collector of Afro-Caribbean music.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2025

He thought a straight-ahead Louisiana-style one, made with the traditional holy trinity of onion, bell pepper and celery, would make a good home for her Lao sausage, and he could not be more correct.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2023

I peel off Andy Warhol’s banana sticker and put on the good, thumping, straight-ahead rock and roll.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com