OK

verb

ō-ˈkā 

variants or okay

OK'd or okayed; OK'ing or okaying

transitive verb

: approve, authorize

Synonyms of OK

• approve
• ratify
• confirm
• accept

Examples of OK in a Sentence

The boss needs to OK this before we place the order.

a judge will have to OK the search warrant

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing OK

• A-OK

Rhymes for OK

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

OK

1 of 3 adverb or adjective

variants or okay

ō-ˈkā 

: all right

OK

2 of 3 noun

variants or okay

: approval

gave their OK to start the project

OK

3 of 3 verb

variants or okay

OK'd or okayed; OK'ing or okaying

: approve sense 2

Etymology

an abbreviation of oll korrect, an altered form of all correct

Word Origin

In the late 1830s Boston newspapers were filled with abbreviations. Abbreviation was apparently the fashion at that time. Any phrase might be shortened. The fad even went so far as to produce abbreviations for intentional misspellings. Such popular expressions as N.G. (no go) and A.R. (all right) gave way to K.G. (know go) and O.W. (oll wright). The abbreviation O.K. stood for oll korrect, a deliberate misspelling of all correct. Several of these abbreviated misspellings became popular for a time, but O.K. was the only one to gain a lasting place in the language.