correct

verb

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cor·rect | \ kə-ˈrekt

corrected; correcting; corrects

Definition of correct

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to make or set right : amend correct an error The editor corrected the author's manuscript.

b : counteract, neutralize correct a harmful tendency

c : to alter or adjust so as to bring to some standard or required condition correct a lens for spherical aberration She's having surgery to correct her vision.

2a : to discipline or punish (someone) for some fault or lapse … I was most rude then. Only a small boy, Sir, and I was corrected for it, I assure you, by my father …— Rex Ingamells

b : to point out usually for amendment the errors or faults of spent the day correcting tests

correct

adjective

Definition of correct (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : conforming to an approved or conventional standard correct behavior

2 : conforming to or agreeing with fact, logic, or known truth a correct response

3 : conforming to a set figure enclosed the correct return postage

4 : conforming to the strict requirements of a specific ideology or set of beliefs or values environmentally correct spiritually correct

Other Words from correct Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About correct

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Other Words from correct

Verb

correctable \ kə-ˈrek-tə-bəl

\ adjective

corrector \ kə-ˈrek-tər

\ noun

Adjective

correctly \ kə-ˈrek(t)-lē

\ adverb

correctness \ kə-ˈrek(t)-nəs

\ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for correct

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Adjective

accurate,
bang on
[chiefly British],
dead-on,
exact,
good,
on-target,
precise,
proper,
right,
so,
spot-on,
true,
veracious

Antonyms: Adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for correct

Verb

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong. correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects. correct your spelling rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed. rectify a misguided policy emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript. emend a text remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil. set out to remedy the evils of the world redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance. redress past social injustices amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes amend a law , reform implying drastic change plans to reform the court system , and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes. revise the schedule

synonyms see in addition punish

Adjective

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 correct in a Sentence

Verb I hate it when she corrects my grammar. Please correct your essay for punctuation errors. Our teacher hasn't finished correcting our tests yet. He corrects papers with a red pen. We are finding ways to correct this difficult situation. We'll correct the problem with the circuit as soon as possible. These medicines are used for correcting chemical imbalances in the brain. Adjective What's the correct answer to this question? Her watch never tells the correct time. an anatomically correct drawing of the human body Did I give you the correct change? With the correct amount of water and sunlight, the plant will grow well.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb FC Cincinnati will be hoping Valentine and Atlanta don't have time to correct the failings prior to Wednesday's game between the clubs at TQL Stadium. — Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 21 July 2021 Decades after highways closed off access to the Connecticut River waterfront, Hartford and Middletown are working to correct the mistakes made in the name of progress during the 20th Century. — Tom Condon, courant.com, 19 July 2021 Rogers and Arora are developing transvenous pacemakers to correct rhythms from inside the heart without needing surgery. — Max G. Levy, Wired, 16 July 2021 The city has recognized the tree disparities and is working to correct them, Widener said. — Greg Moran, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2021 Amazon said the company is aware of the problems at FTW1 and is actively working to correct them by fixing the warehouse’s scheduling and increasing sorting capacity. — Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 20 June 2021 The first, quasi-biological approach is to let some errors happen but to work hard to correct them. — Frank Wilczek, WSJ, 14 May 2021 Seth Monk was one of a few Facebook users to correct himself after posting the false claim on April 24. — Devon Link, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2021 He gets stopped a lot, occasionally to correct him on some detail in one of his shows. — Christopher Borrelli, chicagotribune.com, 24 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective In a statement, U.S. Soccer said the ruling rejecting the women’s pay-discrimination claim was correct. — Rachel Bachman, WSJ, 24 July 2021 Stevens is correct, according to a right of way guide from the REI Co-op Journal. — Caroleine James, The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 July 2021 If the Fed is correct, inflation will slow as production bottlenecks ease and government stimulus wears off. — Washington Post, 20 July 2021 If those are correct, conditions along Japan's east coast could begin to deteriorate as early as the weekend. — Jennifer Gray And Allison Chinchar, CNN, 19 July 2021 If long-term weather forecasts are correct, wildfires will continue to disrupt the season. — Tony Kennedy, Star Tribune, 15 July 2021 If the staff’s understanding of the law were correct, then any number of media folks should be in jail already. — Kyle Whitmire, al, 14 July 2021 Pappas in a July 8 letter, however, demanded Kaegi certify in writing that his calculations are correct. — Alice Yin, chicagotribune.com, 14 July 2021 Now, if Peloton’s revenues grow 2.4x, the P/S multiple will shrink by almost 60% from its current levels, assuming the stock price stays the same, correct? — Trefis Team, Forbes, 24 June 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'correct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for correct

Verb

Middle English, from Latin correctus, past participle of corrigere, from com- + regere to lead straight — more at right

Adjective

Middle English, corrected, from Latin correctus, from past participle of corrigere — see correct entry 1

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Dictionary Entries Near correct

correa

correct

correctant

Statistics for correct

Last Updated

26 Jul 2021

Cite this Entry

“Correct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/correct. Accessed 31 Jul. 2021.

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More Definitions for correct

correct

verb

English Language Learners Definition of correct

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to change (something) so that it is right, true, proper, etc. : to make (something) correct

: to mark the errors on (something that a person has written)

: to deal with or take care of (a problem, bad situation, etc.) successfully

correct

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of correct (Entry 2 of 2)

: true or accurate : agreeing with facts

: having no errors or mistakes

: proper or appropriate in a particular situation

See the full definition for correct in the English Language Learners Dictionary

correct

verb

cor·rect | \ kə-ˈrekt

corrected; correcting

Kids Definition of correct

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to make or set right Please correct any misspelled words.

2 : to change or adjust so as to bring to some standard or to a required condition My watch was slow, so I corrected it. Glasses will correct your vision.

3 : to punish in order to improve … Buldeo went out angrily … anxious to correct Mowgli for not taking better care of the herd.— Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

4 : to show how a thing can be improved or made right She corrected the students' papers.

correct

adjective

Kids Definition of correct (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : free from mistakes : accurate the correct answer

2 : meeting or agreeing with some standard : appropriate correct behavior correct dress for school

Choose the Right Synonym for correct

Adjective

correct, exact, and accurate mean agreeing with a fact, truth, or standard. correct is used for something that contains no errors. Can you give me correct directions? exact is used for something that agrees very closely with fact or truth. I need the exact measurements of the room. accurate is used when great care has been taken to make sure that something agrees with the facts. He gave an accurate description of the scene.