1
a
: 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
2
a
: lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method
a straight thinker
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
3
a
: exhibiting honesty and fairness
straight dealing
b
: properly ordered or arranged
set the kitchen straight
set us straight on that issue
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(1)
: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to or between people of the opposite sex : heterosexual sense 1a
(2)
: of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between individuals of the opposite sex : heterosexual sense 1b
4
: being the only form of remuneration
on straight commission
: in a straight manner
came straight home from work
straighted; straighting; straights
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
2
a
: 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
Did you know?
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.
Synonyms
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
Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Initially Simpson disappointed but ended up leading the team in rushing for nine straight years.
—Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Robert Ardrey and other popular writers drew a straight line from that brutality to make the atom bomb almost inevitable.
—Stefanos Geroulanos, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2024
Rosetta Stone has been honored with various awards since its establishment in 1992, such as the esteemed PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award for Best Language-Learning Software for five straight years.
—Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2024
At Boeing, five straight years of disastrous airplane design and quality problems have ripped apart its reputation as America’s premier aviation icon.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
On its quest to become repeat champions, UConn won all six games in a single NCAA tournament by 13-plus points for a second straight year.
—Steve Almasy, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
After missing 14 straight games with a bruised right heel, Love has returned to be in uniform and available for the last two games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Prior to his injury, Embiid was leading the league in scoring for the third straight season with a career-high 35.3 points on 53.3% shooting, 11.3 rebounds, a career-high 5.7 assists and 1.8 blocks in only 34.0 minutes per game.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Steve Reed, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024
Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.
—USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
The commander forced open the door to the studio and stepped inside, his rifle pointed straight ahead.
—Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
As travelers head straight to perennial favorites like Newport, Rhode Island; Provincetown, Massachusetts; and Kennebunkport, Maine, why not take a proverbial left turn?
—Amy Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2024
On the other side, the expansive, sunny sky drops straight to the water, which, though calm and at low tide, now brims over the top of the road and into a parking lot.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2024
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
—Julianna O'Clair, The Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Many of us had no job prospects to speak of straight out of college, and slogged through a decade of stagnant wages (all while the Boomers who blew up the economy shamed us for living at home and eating avocado toast).
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Billie Eilish is setting the record straight after her comments about vinyl in Billboard‘s recent sustainability issue caused a bit of a stir.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Confidence for a Columbus team that has now missed the playoffs four straight years may be hard to find, but at least the Blue Jackets have exceeded their 59-point performance from last season.
—Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Initially Simpson disappointed but ended up leading the team in rushing for nine straight years.
—Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Robert Ardrey and other popular writers drew a straight line from that brutality to make the atom bomb almost inevitable.
—Stefanos Geroulanos, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2024
Rosetta Stone has been honored with various awards since its establishment in 1992, such as the esteemed PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award for Best Language-Learning Software for five straight years.
—Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2024
At Boeing, five straight years of disastrous airplane design and quality problems have ripped apart its reputation as America’s premier aviation icon.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
On its quest to become repeat champions, UConn won all six games in a single NCAA tournament by 13-plus points for a second straight year.
—Steve Almasy, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
After missing 14 straight games with a bruised right heel, Love has returned to be in uniform and available for the last two games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Prior to his injury, Embiid was leading the league in scoring for the third straight season with a career-high 35.3 points on 53.3% shooting, 11.3 rebounds, a career-high 5.7 assists and 1.8 blocks in only 34.0 minutes per game.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Patrons typically will choose to navigate the long lines at the gift shop upon entering the grounds at Augusta National rather than heading straight to the course.
—Steve Reed, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024
Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.
—USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
The commander forced open the door to the studio and stepped inside, his rifle pointed straight ahead.
—Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
As travelers head straight to perennial favorites like Newport, Rhode Island; Provincetown, Massachusetts; and Kennebunkport, Maine, why not take a proverbial left turn?
—Amy Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2024
On the other side, the expansive, sunny sky drops straight to the water, which, though calm and at low tide, now brims over the top of the road and into a parking lot.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2024
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
—Julianna O'Clair, The Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Many of us had no job prospects to speak of straight out of college, and slogged through a decade of stagnant wages (all while the Boomers who blew up the economy shamed us for living at home and eating avocado toast).
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Billie Eilish is setting the record straight after her comments about vinyl in Billboard‘s recent sustainability issue caused a bit of a stir.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'straight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near straight
Cite this Entry
“Straight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straight. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
straight
1 of 2 adjective1
a
: free from curves, bends, angles, or unevenness
straight hair
straight timber
b
: formed by a point moving continuously in the same direction
a straight line
3
: vertical sense 2, upright
the picture isn't quite straight
4
a
: exhibiting truth, fairness, and honesty : just
straight dealings
b
: correctly ordered or arranged
set the kitchen straight
c
: consecutive
five straight hours
d
: having nothing added
straight liquor
e
: making no exceptions in one's voting for a political party
voted a straight ticket
f
: not varying from a pattern
writes straight humor
g
h
: not using or under the influence of drugs
5
: being the only form of payment
on straight commission
straightness
noun
straight
2 of 2 adverb
: in a straight manner, course, or line
came straight home from school
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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