straighten out
verb
straightened out; straightening out; straightens 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.
Examples of straighten out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Finance departments at any company can be messy, and AI platforms are often pitched as solutions to straighten out problems, create more accurate reports and free up employees to do more interesting work.
—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Stark said her account has since been straightened out.
—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Their mother, whom Jerry has been looking after, is dying, and there are medical bills that need to be straightened out.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
The next pitch was a fastball that Sheets straightened out just enough, sending it about 30 feet to the fair side of the pole and directly into the water.
—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for straighten out
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Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Stark said her account has since been straightened out.
—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026
Their mother, whom Jerry has been looking after, is dying, and there are medical bills that need to be straightened out.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
The next pitch was a fastball that Sheets straightened out just enough, sending it about 30 feet to the fair side of the pole and directly into the water.
—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for straighten out
Cite this Entry
“Straighten out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straighten%20out. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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