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
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 Right
: of, adhering to, or constituted by the Right (see right entry 2 sense 7a) in politics
left and right political views
rightness
noun
plural rights
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
d
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
a
Right
: political parties and individuals who support and promote conservatism (see conservatism sense 1b)
—usually used with the
policies opposed by the country's Right
b
: the position of those who support the beliefs and policies of the political Right
the country's shift to the right
c
often Right
: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the section of the legislative chamber to the right of the presiding officer as a result of holding more conservative political views than other members
also,
usually right
: the section of the chamber they occupy
8
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
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
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
righted; righting; rights
1
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
: to become upright
righter
noun
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
Sam Settleman, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Now, Thomas is absolutely right in showing courage.
—CBS News, 22 June 2025
Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Another unanswered question from Monday’s announcement is whether part of the rights fees would need to be reinvested in streaming capabilities.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Consider them your secret weapon to hiding right under those mosquitoes’ pointy noses.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 24 June 2025
Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
To right the ship, the trustees note that more revenue would need to be collected—like through a payroll tax increase—or benefits will need to be reduced.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for right
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Both of these teams are right around .500, but the Fever feel ascendant and the Aces, for the moment, do not.
—Sam Settleman, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Now, Thomas is absolutely right in showing courage.
—CBS News, 22 June 2025
Noun
The swap rights, in particular, offer flexibility without surrendering outright picks—think of them as tools to grease the wheels without giving away the farm.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Another unanswered question from Monday’s announcement is whether part of the rights fees would need to be reinvested in streaming capabilities.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Adverb
Emily’s Sassy Lime’s installation in the Biennial is right next to one for The Linda Linda’s
The Kids Are All Right
Giving a prestigious museum over to a bunch of kids, and artwork previously made by kids, wouldn’t get out of the brainstorming stage in a lot of places.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Consider them your secret weapon to hiding right under those mosquitoes’ pointy noses.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 24 June 2025
Verb
Some of us cling to the thought of righting things again in the future — truly making American values a source of pride and leadership that bring respect and calm to ourselves and each other.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
To right the ship, the trustees note that more revenue would need to be collected—like through a payroll tax increase—or benefits will need to be reduced.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for right
Cite this Entry
“Right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
right
1 of 4 adjective1
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 noun1
: 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 adverb1
: 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 verb1
: 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
nounˈrīt
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 rights—Declaration of Independence
see also natural right
Declaration of Independence
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 care—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
W. 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
Etymology
Noun
Old English riht, from riht righteous
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