straighten

American

[streyt-n] / ˈstreɪt n /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become straight in direction, form, position, character, conduct, condition, etc. (often followed by up orout ).

straighten British

/ ˈstreɪtən /

verb

to make or become straight
(tr) to make neat or tidy

straighten your desk

"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 Word Forms

overstraighten verb
prestraighten verb (used with object)
restraighten verb
straightener noun
unstraightened adjective
well-straightened adjective

Etymology

Origin of straighten

First recorded in 1535–45; straight + -en ¹

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.

He straightens it out and enhances its faded colour with careful strokes of a pencil.

From BBC

As McCourt straightened up against the fence, Zingano fired off a big knee that immediately opened a huge cut on her opponent.

From BBC

“I wouldn’t say that I feel like a Ukrainian Jedi, but sometimes this phrase reminds me to straighten my shoulders and keep working.”

From Seattle Times

But a few moments later, he straightened back up and revealed his balancing pole, which was now affixed with several lit candles.

From Washington Post

He even took the young singer to a process shop to get Ford’s curly hair straightened and dyed red for a photo shoot.

From Washington Post

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023