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straighten out

phrasal verb

Definition of straighten out

1 : to make (something) straight or to become straight
  • You need to straighten out your legs for this stretch.
  • The river curves and then straightens out again.
2 : to make (something) organized or tidy : to put (something) in order
  • He took time to straighten out the papers on his desk.
3 : to deal with (something) successfully
  • I need more time to straighten out my problems.
4 : to improve in behavior or condition or to cause (someone or something) to improve in behavior or condition
  • He straightened out after joining the army.
  • The problem will not straighten out on its own.
  • You need to straighten your life out.
  • Her parents sent her to boarding school to straighten her out.

Word by Word Definitions

straighten play

  1. : to make straight

  2. : to become straight

See the full definition of straighten
out play

  1. : in a direction away from the inside or center

  2. : outside

  3. : from among others

  1. : eject, oust

  2. : to identify publicly as being such secretly

  3. : to become publicly known

  1. used as a function word to indicate an outward movement

  1. : situated outside : external

  2. : out-of-bounds

  3. : situated at a distance : outlying

  1. : outside

  2. : one who is out of office or power or on the outside

  3. : an act or instance of putting a player out or of being put out in baseball

  1. : in a manner that exceeds or surpasses and sometimes overpowers or defeats

See the full definition of out

Learn More about straighten out

  1. Nglish: Translation of straighten out for Spanish speakers

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