Examples of rightful in a Sentence
The property should be returned to its rightful owner.
He will be given his rightful place in the history books.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Big East has steadied its membership, since the conference’s revival, by adding Butler, Creighton and Xavier, luring UConn back to its rightful home, winning four men’s basketball national championships, four women’s hoops titles and now operating out of the Empire State Building.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Erling Haaland was the rightful match-winner, dispatching his goal with a surety that eluded Havertz on more than one occasion.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Then, once the courtyard was newly refreshed and the fountain glistening, each turtle was returned to its rightful home.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
The custom started, sensibly enough, in 18th- and 19th-century France, when linens were sent out in alarming, indistinguishable heaps and expected to return to their rightful homes.
—Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
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Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Erling Haaland was the rightful match-winner, dispatching his goal with a surety that eluded Havertz on more than one occasion.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Then, once the courtyard was newly refreshed and the fountain glistening, each turtle was returned to its rightful home.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
The custom started, sensibly enough, in 18th- and 19th-century France, when linens were sent out in alarming, indistinguishable heaps and expected to return to their rightful homes.
—Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rightful
Cite this Entry
“Rightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rightful. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rightful
adjective
right·ful
ˈrīt-fəl 
2
: having a just or legal claim : legitimate
the rightful owner
rightfulness
noun
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