- true or correct as a fact
- Did you get the answer right?
- ‘What's the right time?’ ‘10.37.’
- That's exactly right.
- ‘David, isn't it?’ ‘Yes, that's right.’
- (informal) It was Monday you went to see Angie, right?
- Let me get this right (= understand correctly)—you want us to do an extra ten hours' work for no extra pay?
Synonyms truetrueright ▪ correct These words all describe something that cannot be doubted as fact and includes no mistakes.true connected with facts rather than things that have been invented or guessed:- Are the following statements true or false?
- Is it true (that) she’s leaving?
- I got about half the answers right.
- What’s the right time?
- Only one of the answers is correct.
- Check that all the details are correct.
- right/correct about somebody/something
- the true/right/correct answer
- the right/correct time
Extra Examples- I got about half the answers right.
- There's something not quite right about these figures.
- A few details are missing, but the description is more or less right.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- absolutely
- dead
- exactly
- …
- about
- what you think is right
Definitions on the go
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- [not before noun] correct in your opinion or judgement
- right about something You were quite right about the weather.
- right to do something They're absolutely right to be cautious.
- ‘It's not easy.’ ‘Yeah, you're right.’
- right in doing something Am I right in thinking we've met before?
- History has proved him right.
- He never gets anything right.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumenta1- I don't believe she's right in this case.
- She was right about Tom having no money.
- You're dead right. There's nothing we can do.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- absolutely
- dead
- exactly
- …
- about
- what you think is right
- correct for a particular situation or thing, or for a particular person
- Have you got the right money (= the exact amount) for the bus fare?
- What's the right way to do this?
- You're not holding it the right way up.
- Are you sure you've got that on the right way round?
- This is a step in the right direction.
- Next time we'll get it right.
- She's definitely the right person for the job.
- right for somebody I'm glad you split up. She wasn't right for you.
- I was waiting for the right moment to ask him.
- I think we made the right decision.
Synonyms rightrightcorrectBoth these words describe a belief, opinion, decision or method that is suitable or the best one for a particular situation.right if somebody is right to do or think something, that is a good thing to do or think in that situation:see also Mr Right- You’re right to be cautious.
- You made the right decision.
- ‘It’s not easy.’ ‘Yes, you’re right.’
- What’s the correct way to shut the machine down?
- I don’t think she’s correct to say he’s incompetent.
- right/correct about somebody/something
- right/correct to do something
- right/correct in thinking/believing/saying something
- the right/correct decision/judgement/conclusion
- the right/correct way/method/approach
- absolutely/quite right/correct
Extra Examples- Is this the right way to the beach?
- He's definitely the right person to ask.
- I don't think she was right for you.
- He's made the right decision.
- Are you sure that sweater's on the right way (around)?
- She needs to get everything exactly right for her guests.
- I'm sure it'll all turn out right in the end.
- Customers have 30 days to decide if the finished product looks right with their decor.
- Next time we'll get it exactly right.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- absolutely
- dead
- exactly
- …
- about
- what you think is right
- [not usually before noun] morally good or acceptable; correct according to law or a person’s duty
- I hope we're doing the right thing.
- I don't know, it just doesn't seem right.
- On some level this just feels right.
- right to do something You were quite right to criticize him.
- it's right to do something It's only right to warn you of the risk.
- it's right that… It's right that he should be punished.
Extra Examples- It may be a very easy way to make money, but that doesn't make it right.
- James did what he thought was right.
- Hunting may be legal, but that doesn't make it right.
- I think you were right to do what you did.
- I was doing what I thought was right.
- You were quite right to tell me.
- Is it ever right to kill?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- absolutely
- dead
- exactly
- …
- about
- what you think is right
- [not before noun] in a normal or good enough condition
- I don't feel quite right today (= I feel ill).
- Things aren't right between her parents.
- If only I could have helped put matters right.
- That sausage doesn't smell right.
- The meat doesn't taste right to me.
Extra Examplesopposite wrong- We talk about the reasons why something doesn't look right.
- (offensive) He's not quite right in the head (= has a mental condition).
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- absolutely
- dead
- exactly
- …
- about
- what you think is right
- socially fashionable or important
- She knows all the right people (= for example, people who can help her in her career).
- They make sure that their children go to the right schools.
- I wore the best clothes and was seen in all the right places.
Extra Examples- If you know the right people, it opens more and more doors.
- He is the consummate politician, a man who went to all the right schools and played by all the right rules.
- [only before noun] of, on or towards the side of the body that is towards the east when a person faces north
- your right hand/arm/foot/leg
- My right eye is weaker than my left eye.
- Keep on the right side of the road.
- Take a right turn at the intersection.
- [only before noun] (British English, informal, especially disapproving) used to emphasize something bad
- You made a right mess of that!
- I felt a right idiot.
see also all right
true/correct
morally good
normal
fashionable/important
not left
complete
Word OriginOld English riht (adjective and noun), rihtan (verb), rihte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Latin rectus ‘ruled’, from an Indo-European root denoting movement in a straight line.
Idioms
See right in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee right in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe in the right place at the right time
- to be able to take advantage of opportunities when they come
- His success was down to being in the right place at the right time.
More Like This Silent lettersSilent letters
get/start off on the right/wrong foot (with somebody)
- (informal) to start a relationship well/badly
- I seem to have got off on the wrong foot with the new boss.
get on the right/wrong side of somebody
- to make somebody pleased with you/annoyed with you
give your right arm for something/to do something
- (informal) used to say that somebody is willing to give up a lot in order to have or do something that they really want
- I'd have given my right arm to have been there with them.
have your head screwed on (the right way)
- (informal) to be a sensible person
have the right idea
- to have found a very good or successful way of living, doing something, etc.
- He's certainly got the right idea—retiring at 55.
- The party had the right idea, but failed to win over the voters.
somebody’s heart is in the right place
- used to say that somebody’s intentions are kind and sincere even though they sometimes do the wrong thing
hit/strike the right/wrong note
- (especially British English) to do, say or write something that is suitable/not suitable for a particular occasion
- It is a bizarre tale and the author hits just the right note of horror and disbelief.
- Unfortunately, the president struck the wrong note in his speech, ignoring the public mood.
(not) in your right mind
- (not) thinking clearly; (not) able to make sensible decisions
- Who in their right mind would spend $50 000 on a pair of shoes?
might is right
- (saying) having the power to do something gives you the right to do it
- Their foreign policy is based on the principle that ‘might is right’.
on the right/wrong side of 40, 50, etc.
- (informal) younger or older than 40, 50, etc. years of age
on the right/wrong track
- thinking or behaving in the right/wrong way
- We haven’t found a cure yet—but we are on the right track.
- The new manager successfully got the team back onto the right track.
- The police were on the wrong track when they treated the case as a revenge killing.
push all the (right) buttons
(also press all the (right) buttons especially in British English)
- (informal) to do exactly the right things to please somebody
- a new satirical comedy show that pushes all the right buttons
(as) right as rain
- (informal) in excellent health or condition
right enough
- (informal) certainly; in a way that cannot be denied
- You heard me right enough (= so don't pretend that you did not).
right on
- (informal) used to express strong approval or support see also right-on
right side up
- (North American English) with the top part turned to the top; in the correct, normal position
- I dropped my toast, but luckily it fell right side up.
she’ll be right
- (Australian English, informal) used to say that everything will be all right, even if there is a problem now
too right
- (British English, informal) used to say that there is no doubt about something
- ‘We need to stick together.’ ‘Too right!’
- ‘I'll have to do it again.’ ‘Too right you will.’
Check pronunciation:
right