straight

adjective

\ ˈstrāt

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

adverb

Definition of straight (Entry 2 of 4)

: in a straight manner came straight home from work

straight

verb

straighted; straighting; straights

Definition of straight (Entry 3 of 4)

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

: straighten

straight

noun

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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Synonyms & Antonyms for straight

Synonyms: Adjective

direct, linear, right, straightaway, straightforward

Synonyms: Adverb

dead, direct, directly, due, plumb, plump, right, straightway

Antonyms: Adverb

indirectly

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

Rejina Pyo’s ruffled blouse was practically made for the straight-leg denim and kitten-heel slingback combination, the perfect outfit for casual Fridays or even date night. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, "Forget Basic Button-Downs: These Shirts Make a Statement and Still Go With Everything," 6 Feb. 2019 If Saturn had no rings at all, the probe would simply follow a straight path downward. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Saturn's Rings Are Much Younger Than You Might Think," 18 Jan. 2019 Jumping straight to offering a large-scale taxi service might turn out to be impractical, even in a geofenced area like the Phoenix suburbs. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "The hype around driverless cars came crashing down in 2018," 30 Dec. 2018 But the deal wasn’t a straight investment; rather, Genertec pledged to open a $1 billion line of credit that could be used by Arrivo’s partners to build out a full transportation system. — Sean O'kane, The Verge, "Hyperloop startup Arrivo is shutting down as workers are laid off," 15 Dec. 2018 And there’s a very straight-ahead journalist who’s been in it forever, really having trouble figuring out what to do. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Full Q&A: Ezra Klein and Kara Swisher on the future of journalism," 12 Dec. 2018 Croatia, a country of 4.5 million people which gained independence from the former Yugoslavia only 27 years ago, enters the final after playing three straight extra-time matches, including two nerve-racking penalty shootouts. — Graham Dunbar, chicagotribune.com, "Mbappe's France face Croatia's Modric for the World Cup title," 14 July 2018 Hailey wore her pastel hair in a stick-straight style, with a few strands tucked behind her ears, showing off her trendy gold hoops. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Hailey Bieber Steps Out With Light Pink Hair," 13 Jan. 2019 The index was down 7.7% in November from a year earlier, marking the 11th-straight month of annual declines. — Sharon Nunn, WSJ, "Pending Home Sales Fell in November," 28 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Next, the ice will sublime out of them—that’s when water goes straight from ice to gas without turning to liquid first, remember? — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "How to Freeze-Dry Food," 8 Nov. 2018 The shirt is currently marked down from its usual price of $30 to $24 — all of which, as Levinthal pointed out, would go straight to Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign. — Andrea Park, Teen Vogue, "Donald Trump Is Still Selling a LGBTQ Pride Shirt Despite Anti-Transgender Policy," 22 Oct. 2018 Randall flies back across the country and goes straight to the hospital to comfort Deja’s friend and her mom, Dorothea. — Candice Frederick, Harper's BAZAAR, "This Is Us Season 3 Episode 3: Dreams and Fears Go Hand-In-Hand for the Pearsons," 10 Oct. 2018 When going straight, what’s most important to the health of your hair is the temperature of the iron. — Nykia Spradley, Allure, "My Hair-Straightening Routine for Taking My Glorious Kinks and Curls to a Silky-Smooth Blowout," 9 Oct. 2018 Once that individual is identified in 2020, that money will go straight into his or her account. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Susan Collins’s 2020 challenger already has a $3 million campaign fund, thanks to her vote on Kavanaugh," 6 Oct. 2018 After being discharged from the hospital, Demi will be going straight to rehab. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "Demi Lovato Has Reportedly Agreed to Go to Rehab After Being Released from the Hospital," 3 Aug. 2018 The resulting savings—billions of dollars a year—have gone straight into investors’ own pockets. — Jason Zweig, WSJ, "John C. Bogle, Founder of Vanguard Group, Dies at 89," 17 Jan. 2019 Despite only signing from Premier League Chelsea on Friday, Fabregas went straight into the team and added poise and assurance to Monaco’s midfield. — Jerome Pugmire, The Seattle Times, "Fabregas almost creates winner as Monaco draws at Marseille," 13 Jan. 2019

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.

First Known Use of straight

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Dictionary Entries near straight

Statistics for straight

Last Updated

10 Feb 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for straight

The first known use of straight was in the 14th century

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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

adjective

\ 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

adverb

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.