right

1 of 4

adjective

1
2
: being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper
right conduct
3
: conforming to facts or truth : correct
the right answer
4
: suitable, appropriate
the right man for the job
5
: straight
a right line
6
7
a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body which is away from the side on which the heart is mostly located
b
: located nearer to the right hand than to the left
c
: located to the right of an observer facing the object specified or directed as the right arm would point when raised out to the side
d(1)
: located on the right of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified
stage right
(2)
: located on the right when facing downstream
the right bank of a river
e
: done with the right hand
a right hook to the jaw
8
: having the axis perpendicular to the base
right cone
9
: of, relating to, or constituting the principal or more prominent side of an object
made sure the socks were right side out
10
: acting or judging in accordance with truth or fact
time proved her right
11
a
: being in good physical or mental health or order
not in his right mind
b
: being in a correct or proper state
put things right
12
: most favorable or desired : preferable
also : socially acceptable
knew all the right people
13
often capitalized : of, adhering to, or constituted by the Right especially in politics
rightness noun

right

2 of 4

noun

1
: qualities (such as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
2
: something to which one has a just claim: such as
a
: the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled
voting rights
his right to decide
b(1)
: the interest that one has in a piece of property
often used in plural
mineral rights
(2)
rights plural : the property interest possessed under law or custom and agreement in an intangible thing especially of a literary and artistic nature
film rights of the novel
3
: something that one may properly claim as due
knowing the truth is her right
4
: the cause of truth or justice
5
a
: right hand sense 1a
also : a blow struck with this hand
gave him a hard right on the jaw
b
: the location or direction of the right side
woods on his right
c
: the part on the right side
e
: a turn to the right
take a right at the stop sign
6
a
: the true account or correct interpretation
b
: the quality or state of being factually correct
7
often capitalized
a
: the part of a legislative chamber located to the right of the presiding officer
b
: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the right as a result of holding more conservative political views than other members
8
a
often capitalized : individuals professing support of the established order and favoring traditional attitudes and practices and conservative governmental policies
b
often capitalized : a conservative position
9
a
: a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price
b
: the negotiable certificate evidencing such privilege
usually used in plural
rightmost adjective

right

3 of 4

adverb

1
: according to right
live right
2
: in the exact location, position, or moment : precisely
right at his fingertips
quit right then and there
3
: in a suitable, proper, or desired manner
knew he wasn't doing it right
4
: in a direct line, course, or manner : directly, straight
go right home
came right out and said it
5
: according to fact or truth : truly
guessed right
6
a
: all the way
windows right to the floor
b
: in a complete manner
felt right at home
7
: without delay : immediately
right after lunch
8
: to a great degree : very
a right pleasant day
9
: on or to the right
looked left and right

right

4 of 4

verb

righted; righting; rights

transitive verb

1
a
: to do justice to : redress the injuries of
so just is God to right the innocentWilliam Shakespeare
b
: justify, vindicate
felt the need to right himself in court
2
: avenge
vows to right the injustice done to his family
3
a
: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition
right the economy
b
: to bring or restore to an upright position
right a capsized boat

intransitive verb

: to become upright
righter noun
Phrases
by rights or less commonly by all rights
: with reason or justice : properly
in one's own right
: by virtue of one's own qualifications or properties
of right
1
: as an absolute right
2
: legally or morally exactable
to rights
: into proper order
Choose the Right Synonym for right

correct, accurate, exact, precise, nice, right mean conforming to fact, standard, or truth.

correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

Examples of right in a Sentence

Adjective You can't treat me like this! It's not right! You were right to tell the teacher about the girl who you saw cheating. Telling the teacher was the right thing to do. “Is that clock right? Is it noon already?” “Yes. That's right.” There's something not quite right about his story. Their theory was proved right. Let me get this right—you want me to lend you $1,000?! You're right; the answer is six. I bet you like baseball. Am I right? Am I right in thinking that he should have never loaned her the money? Noun We discussed the rights and wrongs of genetic cloning. women fighting for equal rights Knowing the truth is her right. Adverb The keys are right where I said they would be. “Where are my keys?” “They're right here.” The bank is right next to the pharmacy. The parking lot is right in front of the building. He left his bags right in the middle of the floor. She was waiting right outside the door. The ball hit me right in the face. We arrived right at noon. You are right on time. When the boss yelled at him, he quit right then and there. Verb It was time to right an old wrong. No one can right all the wrongs in the world. The government needs to do something to right the economy. They righted the capsized boat. He quickly righted himself after he fell off the chair.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
If the ingredients aren’t right, the off flavors will pop up in each slice. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 This phenomenon only occurs during a new moon phase when the alignment of the sun, moon and Earth is just right. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 For those looking to get out of credit card debt, see if a balance transfer is right for you. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Last week, 51% of readers who took this week’s news quiz got eight or more questions right. Aj Willingham, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 For Beyoncé and Taylor, that kind of grew up in the age of Obama, the mainstream politics seemed OK, right? Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 When the veins in her arms started to reject PICC lines, doctors placed a port under her right collarbone for easy access to her central vein. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 Poplar Bluff in southeast Missouri will be right in the path. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024 At the BAFTAs last weekend, Stone took a page out of her Poor Things' character Bella Baxter's book and wore a one-sleeve Louis Vuitton gown that would have felt right at home in the film. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
Noun
Sign up here to receive an email right as the chat is about to start. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Prominent rights brokers include Charades, Goodfellas, Fandango and Filmax. Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024 What happens to a young mother who exercises this right? Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 The French constitutional amendment has been hailed by women’s rights advocates around the world, including places where women struggle to access birth control or maternal health care. Angela Charlton and Jade Le Deley, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 Setting that aside, courts have held that Americans have a constitutional right to receive foreign propaganda, even if the US government doesn’t like it. Brian Fung, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Prosecutors said Hicks violated the man’s constitutional rights to be free from use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement agent. Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 Selden Morgan, director of sales, is in center; Christine Apostolou, jewelry specialist, is on right. Tony Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024 Cherry Red’s catalog includes tracks by Everything but the Girl, The Monochrome Set and The Residents, as well as some song rights owned by its publishing division, Cherry Red Songs. Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Anderson drove right into the lane against the 5-foot-10 Trammell, and Jaedon LeDee shifted off Cam Martin on the opposite side of the lane in an attempt to block Anderson’s floater. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 This extends to the expressivity of a noodle’s form, sensual or zany, and to the harmony of marrying a particular shape with exactly the right sauce, which carries the same satisfying sense of inevitability that comes from hanging a picture just right. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2024 The driver of a passenger van turned right into the path of a semitrailer truck hauling a tankerload of milk east on the highway. Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2024 And Emanuel was fighting in Silver’s corner right up until the last-straw phone call with Valenti and Kroll, which is said to have revolved around whether Road House would get a theatrical release (Silver and Liman want one, Amazon doesn’t). Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 While many celebs have been opting for more voluminous styles like the ‘90s super model bob and baroque bob, Hadid’s cut is shorter, falling right in the middle of her neck, and involves fewer layers and much less blowdrying. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2024 In the main games, the move is one of the most powerful and is right up there with the Great Sword’s True Charged Blade Slash. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 The right comes for Doritos Before Doritos ended its relationship with Hudson over her historic tweets, right-leaning accounts had already launched an onslaught against the pair in a familiar reaction to brand promotions including LGBTQ+ influencers. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 7 Mar. 2024 The show opened with introductions before jumping right into a challenge. Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
The dramatic gender imbalance that typically defined the Oscar categories outside of acting has—slowly, and with much stuttering along the way—begun to right itself over the past few years, partly thanks to the Academy making increasing efforts to diversify its voting body. Liam Hess, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024 Plenty of local officials say Cambridge and Boston are weathering a real estate dip that will right itself in a few years. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 Ultimate guide to her Footprint Center concert Chefs absolutely love these 10 metro Phoenix restaurants: 'Dining is an expression of art' The show attempts to right a wrong from 1973 Charlie Brown and Franklin bond over a go-cart race, paired after getting left out after everyone chooses up. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024 In order to right the ship, the Wings will have to beat a good Flyers team that has won six of their last seven games. Andrew Birkle, Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024 Season 3 of Reacher will find Alan Ritchson's titular tough guy — the massive, nomadic ex-military police investigator who's always righting wrongs — going undercover to rescue an informant held by a haunting foe from his past. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2024 By continually consulting and collaborating with multiple stakeholders inside and outside the organization, including non-technical domain experts and community representatives, the course can be righted when mission drift occurs. Muddu Sudhakar, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 But Herro and Adebayo helped right the ship, and Miami went to half ahead 53-51 despite shooting just 4 for 20 on threes in the first half. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024 What happened at the 2024 U.S. figure skating championships Friday night didn’t exactly instill confidence that Americans are about to right the ship. USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'right.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English riht; akin to Old High German reht right, Latin rectus straight, right, regere to lead straight, direct, rule, rogare to ask, Greek oregein to stretch out

Noun

Middle English, from Old English riht, from riht, adjective

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of right was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near right

Cite this Entry

“Right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

right

1 of 4 adjective
1
2
: following what is just, good, or proper
right conduct
3
: agreeing with facts or truth : correct
the right answer
4
: appropriate entry 2, suitable
the right person for the job
the right tool
5
: straight sense 1
a right line
6
7
a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body which is away from the side on which the heart is mostly located
the right leg
b
: located nearer to the right side of the body
the right arm of the chair
8
: being shaped in such a way that a line drawn from the middle of the top to the middle of the base is perpendicular to the base
a right cone
9
: being or meant to be the side on top, in front, or on the outside
landed right side up
right side out
10
: acting or judging in a way that agrees with truth or fact
time proved us right
11
: healthy in mind or body
did not feel right
12
: most worth having or seeking
the right neighborhoods
the right people
rightness noun

right

2 of 4 noun
1
: the ideal of what is just and good
2
: something to which one has a just claim
often used in plural
the right to freedom of religion
the movie rights to a story
3
: something that one may properly claim as due
knowing the truth is her right
4
: the cause of truth or justice
fighting for right
5
a
: the right side or the part on the right side
b
: a turn to the right
take a right at the stop sign
6
: the quality or state of being factually correct
there's both right and wrong in that argument
7
often capitalized : the members of a European legislative body sitting to the right of the officer in charge and holding more conservative political views than other members
8
often capitalized : political conservatives

right

3 of 4 adverb
1
: according to right
live right
2
: in the exact location or position : precisely
right where you left it
3
: in a suitable, proper, or desired manner
hold your pen right
4
: in a direct line or course
go right home
5
: according to fact or truth : truly
guess right
heard right
6
: all the way
windows right to the floor
7
: without delay : immediately
right at 2 o'clock
8
: to a great degree : very
a right pleasant day

right

4 of 4 verb
1
: to make right (something wrong or unjust)
2
a
: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition
b
: to bring or restore to an upright position
3
: to become upright
righter noun

Medical Definition

right

adjective
: of, relating to, or being the side of the body which is away from the heart and on which the hand is stronger in most people
her right foot
also : located nearer to this side than to the left
right adverb

Legal Definition

right

noun
ˈrīt
1
a
: qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
b
: something that is morally just
able to distinguish right from wrong
2
: something to which one has a just claim: as
a
: a power, privilege, or condition of existence to which one has a natural claim of enjoyment or possession
the right of liberty
that all men…are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rightsDeclaration of Independence
see also natural right
b
: a power, privilege, immunity, or capacity the enjoyment of which is secured to a person by law
one's constitutional rights
c
: a legally enforceable claim against another that the other will do or will not do a given act
the defendant may be under a legal duty…to exercise reasonable care for the plaintiff's safety, so that the plaintiff has a corresponding legal right to insist on that careW. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
d
: the interest that one has in property : a claim or title to property
often used in pl.
leasing mineral rights
see also real right
e
plural : the interest in property possessed (as under copyright law) in an intangible thing and especially an item of intellectual property
obtained publishing rights
3
: a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price
rightful adjective
rightfully adverb
Etymology

Noun

Old English riht, from riht righteous

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