straight-ahead

adjective

ˈstrāt-ə-ˈhed 

: relating to or being music performed in an unembellished manner typical of a given idiom or performer

broadly : straightforward

Examples of straight-ahead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those beats are equally in flux, switching between straight-ahead techno and the funky but lead-footed stomp of guaracha, adding to the disorientation. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026

Like Gauff, Steffi Graf had otherworldly straight-ahead speed. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 29 June 2026

Cost-Benefit Analysis Plus More The straight-ahead approach would be to list the potential costs of adopting AI for each of these two instances. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Maybe the walls that have kept straight-ahead comic novels from getting too close to the hallowed halls of literary fiction are starting to crumble. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for straight-ahead

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead