straightened; straightening
ˈstrāt-niŋ 
ˈstrā-tᵊn-iŋ
: to make straight
—usually used with up or out
: to become straight
—usually used with up or out
Examples of straighten in a Sentence
He straightened the bent antenna.
The drooping flowers straightened in the rain.
Recent Examples on the Web
The pop star wore her black tresses straightened, while her makeup featured rosy blush and pink lip liner.
—
Hannah Malach, WWD, 25 July 2024
Of course, people straightened it out, but there was always an idea that there was going to be some line or some kind of a reference.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2024
Depending on the person and the details of their case, a pair of glasses in the right prescription may be all that’s necessary to straighten vision and address strabismus, Flanary says.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 30 July 2024
While Black women often straightened their hair to assimilate––despite current studies linking chemical relaxers to cancer––Davis used her afro to defy European standards of beauty and affirm the African.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for straighten 
Hannah Malach, WWD, 25 July 2024
Of course, people straightened it out, but there was always an idea that there was going to be some line or some kind of a reference.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2024
Depending on the person and the details of their case, a pair of glasses in the right prescription may be all that’s necessary to straighten vision and address strabismus, Flanary says.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 30 July 2024
While Black women often straightened their hair to assimilate––despite current studies linking chemical relaxers to cancer––Davis used her afro to defy European standards of beauty and affirm the African.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for straighten
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'straighten.' 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 straighten
Cite this Entry
“Straighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straighten. Accessed 13 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
straighten
verb
straight·en
ˈstrāt-ᵊn
straightened; straightening
ˈstrāt-niŋ
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become straight
—usually used with up or out
straighten up a room
straightened out the problem
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