straight

\ ˈstrāt

How to pronounce straight (audio)

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Definition of straight

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities straight hair straight timber

b : generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed by a linear equation a straight line the straight segment of a curve

2a : lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method a straight thinker

b : candid, frank a straight answer

c : coming directly from a trustworthy source a straight tip on the horses

d(1) : having the elements in an order the straight sequence of events

(2) : consecutive 12 straight days

e : having the cylinders arranged in a single straight line a straight 8-cylinder engine

f : plumb, vertical the picture isn't quite straight

3a : exhibiting honesty and fairness straight dealing

b : properly ordered or arranged set the kitchen straight set us straight on that issue also : correct get the facts straight

c : free from extraneous matter : unmixed straight whiskey

d : marked by no exceptions or deviations in support of a principle or party votes a straight Democratic ticket

e : having a fixed price for each regardless of the number sold

f : not deviating from an indicated pattern writes straight humor a straight-A student

g(1) : exhibiting no deviation from what is established or accepted as usual, normal, or proper : conventional also : square sense 5f

(2) : not using or under the influence of drugs or alcohol

h : heterosexual

4 : being the only form of remuneration on straight commission

straight

Definition of straight (Entry 2 of 4)

: in a straight manner came straight home from work

straight

straighted; straighting; straights

Definition of straight (Entry 3 of 4)

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

straight

Definition of straight (Entry 4 of 4)

1 : something that is straight: such as

a : a straight line or arrangement

b : straightaway especially : homestretch

c : a true or honest report or course

2a : a sequence (as of shots, strokes, or moves) resulting in a perfect score in a game or contest

b : first place at the finish of a horse race : win

3 : a poker hand containing five cards in sequence but not of the same suit — see poker illustration

4 : a person who adheres to conventional attitudes and mores

Other Words from straight Synonyms & Antonyms strait or straight? More Example Sentences Learn More about straight

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strait or straight?

Straight and strait are homophones (“one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling”), and many people are in the habit of confusing such creatures, particularly when used in fixed phrases. If you express no emotion you have a straight face; an upright person is a straight shooter; a straight flush is “a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit in sequence.” However, if you find yourself in a difficult situation you are in dire straits. Straitjacket and straitlaced are the more commonly used forms for the restrictive garment and the “strict in manners” adjective, although straightjacket and straightlaced are also occasionally found.

Examples of straight in a Sentence

Adjective She has long, straight hair. The flagpole is perfectly straight. The picture isn't quite straight. We sat in the airport for five straight hours. Adverb She walked straight up to him and slapped him in the face. The tunnel goes straight through the mountain. The library is straight ahead. He was so drunk he couldn't walk straight. She sat with her legs straight out. The tree fell straight down. The car went straight off the road. She told him straight to his face that she hated him. Pine trees stood straight along the path. Sit up straight and don't slouch.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Theodore improved to 8-1 overall, 7-0 in region play with its eighth straight win. — Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, "Coastal Roundup: Theodore clinches 7A, Region 1 title; Vigor, Fairhope win," 24 Oct. 2020 One is straight peanut butter, the next one is blackberry jelly. — Kristine M. Kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "West Allis deli owner takes peanut butter and jelly to a 'higher form'," 23 Oct. 2020 Wade later won that national tournament with that team, then led Trinity Christian Academy to four straight Florida Class 3A high school championships. — Nathan Baird, cleveland, "Shaun Wade could not walk away from his Ohio State football teammates and their national championship potential," 23 Oct. 2020 Measure each straight run of fence and divide by the width of the slats plus the slat spacing to determine whether full-width slats will complete the run. — Merle Henkenius, Popular Mechanics, "How To Make Your Own Picket Fence," 23 Oct. 2020 Morton, a right-hander who turns 37 on Nov. 12, had entered unbeaten in seven straight postseason decisions, one shy of Orlando Hernandez’s record, including wins in five consecutive postseason starts. — Ronald Blum, courant.com, "Buehler leads Dodgers over Rays 6-2 for 2-1 Series lead," 23 Oct. 2020 Among those hospitalized, 122 needed intensive care, down slightly from 125 Thursday but still marking the 11th straight day with triple-digit ICU hospitalizations. — Ben Leonard, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland reports 712 new coronavirus cases, eight deaths, continuing week of increasing cases," 23 Oct. 2020 Carson Wentz made up for it, leading Philadelphia on two long touchdowns drives in the final five minutes for an eighth straight win over New York. — Tom Canavan, Star Tribune, "NY Giants squander chance to get back into NFC East race," 23 Oct. 2020 Williams is currently being held on a $850,000 straight bond, according to court records. — Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, "Teenager will be tried as an adult in Forest Park homicide, documents say," 23 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb The possibilities include familiar tactics—contesting mail-in ballots and turning the process into Bush v. Gore on steroids—and others that sound straight out of a police state. — Lizzie Widdicombe, The New Yorker, "What Can You Do If Trump Stages a Coup?," 24 Oct. 2020 Nesvog joined the bureau straight out of college and was assigned to the FBI's Seattle division, working white-collar crimes. — CBS News, ""The FBI Declassified": To catch a serial bomber," 20 Oct. 2020 The portrayal is taken straight out of his own playbook. — Matthew Rosenberg, New York Times, "Republican Voters Take a Radical Conspiracy Theory Mainstream," 19 Oct. 2020 Jelly rolls are fun and a teeeeny bit stressful to make (what’s baking without a little risk?), beautiful to look at, and straight out of The Great British Bake Off. — Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, "A Jelly Roll Pan Is Good for So Much More Than Jelly Roll Cakes," 16 Oct. 2020 Dust storms are straight out of the movies: a wall of sand, several stories high, moving through a landscape at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. — Graham Averill, Outside Online, "How to Survive 5 Extreme Weather Scenarios," 15 Oct. 2020 In images and themes straight out of an Andre Dubus short story, Goldsmith gives a first-person account of a working-class man and his family in northern Florida from childhood to middle age. — Damon Linker, TheWeek, "The poetic wisdom of Dawes' Good Luck with Whatever," 10 Oct. 2020 Louis-Dreyfus and Schwartz both noted that the awkward moment seemed straight out of a TV comedy. — Rachel Yang, EW.com, "Celebrities react to fly 'guest star' and more buzzy moments from vice presidential debate," 8 Oct. 2020 But when asked about his commitment to the run, Sheridan reached for an answer straight out of an offensive coordinator’s handbook. — Jon Blau, The Indianapolis Star, "IU football not tipping hand on how much it will depend on running game," 8 Oct. 2020

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

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Learn More about straight

Dictionary Entries near straight

straight accent

Statistics for straight

Last Updated

27 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Straight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straight. Accessed 30 Oct. 2020.

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More Definitions for straight

straight

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of straight

(Entry 1 of 3)

: not having curves, bends, or angles

: vertical or level

: following one after the other in order : following each other without interruption

straight

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of straight (Entry 2 of 3)

: in a straight or direct way

: in or into a vertical position

: without any delay : directly or immediately

straight

noun

English Language Learners Definition of straight (Entry 3 of 3)

: a straight part of a racecourse

: a hand of playing cards in poker that contains five cards in sequence (such as a five, a six, a seven, an eight, and a nine)

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

straight

\ ˈstrāt

\

straighter; straightest

Kids Definition of straight

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : following the same direction throughout its length : not having curves, bends, or angles a straight line

2 : being perfectly vertical or horizontal Does the flagpole look straight?

3 : following one after the other in order We worked for five straight hours.

4 : not changing from an indicated pattern I got straight A's on my report card.

5 : not straying from what is right or honest a straight answer

6 : correctly ordered or arranged We set the kitchen straight.

7 : correct entry 2 sense 1 Let's get the facts straight.

8 : not showing any feeling especially of amusement a straight face

straight

Kids Definition of straight (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : without delay or hesitation I came straight home.

2 : in a direct and uninterrupted course : without turning or curving aside The library is straight ahead. Skye looked into the closet and straight through into another bedroom …— Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks

3 : in or into an upright position stand straight

4 : without interruption They have been working for three days straight.

5 : in a normal or correct way I can't think straight.

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