right

1 of 4

adjective

1
2
: being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper
right conduct
3
: conforming to facts or truth : correct
the right answer
4
: suitable, appropriate
the right man for the job
5
: straight
a right line
6
7
a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body which is away from the side on which the heart is mostly located
b
: located nearer to the right hand than to the left
c
: located to the right of an observer facing the object specified or directed as the right arm would point when raised out to the side
d(1)
: located on the right of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified
stage right
(2)
: located on the right when facing downstream
the right bank of a river
e
: done with the right hand
a right hook to the jaw
8
: having the axis perpendicular to the base
right cone
9
: of, relating to, or constituting the principal or more prominent side of an object
made sure the socks were right side out
10
: acting or judging in accordance with truth or fact
time proved her right
11
a
: being in good physical or mental health or order
not in his right mind
b
: being in a correct or proper state
put things right
12
: most favorable or desired : preferable
also : socially acceptable
knew all the right people
13
often capitalized : of, adhering to, or constituted by the Right especially in politics
rightness noun

right

2 of 4

noun

1
: qualities (such as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
2
: something to which one has a just claim: such as
a
: the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled
voting rights
his right to decide
b(1)
: the interest that one has in a piece of property
often used in plural
mineral rights
(2)
rights plural : the property interest possessed under law or custom and agreement in an intangible thing especially of a literary and artistic nature
film rights of the novel
3
: something that one may properly claim as due
knowing the truth is her right
4
: the cause of truth or justice
5
a
: right hand sense 1a
also : a blow struck with this hand
gave him a hard right on the jaw
b
: the location or direction of the right side
woods on his right
c
: the part on the right side
e
: a turn to the right
take a right at the stop sign
6
a
: the true account or correct interpretation
b
: the quality or state of being factually correct
7
often capitalized
a
: the part of a legislative chamber located to the right of the presiding officer
b
: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the right as a result of holding more conservative political views than other members
8
a
often capitalized : individuals professing support of the established order and favoring traditional attitudes and practices and conservative governmental policies
b
often capitalized : a conservative position
9
a
: a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price
b
: the negotiable certificate evidencing such privilege
usually used in plural
rightmost adjective

right

3 of 4

adverb

1
: according to right
live right
2
: in the exact location, position, or moment : precisely
right at his fingertips
quit right then and there
3
: in a suitable, proper, or desired manner
knew he wasn't doing it right
4
: in a direct line, course, or manner : directly, straight
go right home
came right out and said it
5
: according to fact or truth : truly
guessed right
6
a
: all the way
windows right to the floor
b
: in a complete manner
felt right at home
7
: without delay : immediately
right after lunch
8
: to a great degree : very
a right pleasant day
9
: on or to the right
looked left and right

right

4 of 4

verb

righted; righting; rights

transitive verb

1
a
: to do justice to : redress the injuries of
so just is God to right the innocentWilliam Shakespeare
b
: justify, vindicate
felt the need to right himself in court
2
: avenge
vows to right the injustice done to his family
3
a
: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition
right the economy
b
: to bring or restore to an upright position
right a capsized boat

intransitive verb

: to become upright
righter noun
Phrases
by rights or less commonly by all rights
: with reason or justice : properly
in one's own right
: by virtue of one's own qualifications or properties
of right
1
: as an absolute right
2
: legally or morally exactable
to rights
: into proper order
Choose the Right Synonym for right

correct, accurate, exact, precise, nice, right mean conforming to fact, standard, or truth.

correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

Examples of right in a Sentence

Adjective You can't treat me like this! It's not right! You were right to tell the teacher about the girl who you saw cheating. Telling the teacher was the right thing to do. “Is that clock right? Is it noon already?” “Yes. That's right.” There's something not quite right about his story. Their theory was proved right. Let me get this right—you want me to lend you $1,000?! You're right; the answer is six. I bet you like baseball. Am I right? Am I right in thinking that he should have never loaned her the money? Noun We discussed the rights and wrongs of genetic cloning. women fighting for equal rights Knowing the truth is her right. Adverb The keys are right where I said they would be. “Where are my keys?” “They're right here.” The bank is right next to the pharmacy. The parking lot is right in front of the building. He left his bags right in the middle of the floor. She was waiting right outside the door. The ball hit me right in the face. We arrived right at noon. You are right on time. When the boss yelled at him, he quit right then and there. Verb It was time to right an old wrong. No one can right all the wrongs in the world. The government needs to do something to right the economy. They righted the capsized boat. He quickly righted himself after he fell off the chair. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
If the butter isn't cold enough and if the liquid ingredients aren't right, the biscuits will come out dense and flat. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023 The 24-year-old right fielder, who was promoted Thursday and crushed his first home run a day later in his third career at-bat, climbed into a clubhouse laundry cart — a longstanding clubhouse tradition often used to celebrate career firsts. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2023 Well, green software is— think in terms of sustainability of the software, right? IEEE Spectrum, 6 Sep. 2023 And then disposing of balls is right at the bottom, the least desirable. CBS News, 6 Sep. 2023 From wearing Pharrell’s first Louis Vuitton custom look to showing off her Atelier Versace birthday ensemble, Queen Bey is currently right at the top of the fashion world’s agenda. Alex Kessler, Glamour, 6 Sep. 2023 As previously mentioned, everyone has different needs, so what's right for one person might not be for the next. Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 6 Sep. 2023 Two mesh pockets on the side are perfect for water bottles and snacks, and the 16-liter capacity is just right for elementary and middle schoolers. Karthika Gupta, Parents, 6 Sep. 2023 Ohio State is in trouble Buckeyes fans never overreact to anything, right? USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2023
Noun
Sign up here to receive an email right as the chat is about to start. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023 Phillips requested that she be granted full legal and physical custody of Fianna while Masterson be given visitation rights. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023 Northeast Ohio Catholics have been thrust into the national debate about LGBTQ rights after the diocese released its policy at the beginning of the month for churches and 79 elementary schools and five high schools. cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023 When the formalities concluded, King proceeded to change the course of sports history and bring enduring muscle to the growing women’s rights movement. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023 The governor asked about the association’s American Library Bill of Rights, which says all people, regardless of age, have a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Mike Cason | McAson@al.com, al, 19 Sep. 2023 In the early twentieth century, the suffragette movement tied the politics of voting rights with other forms of mobility. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023 Gun rights groups, along with conservation, wetlands and wildlife advocacy organizations, opposed AB 28. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023 Throughout the legal battle, Kennedy became well-known among religious conservative groups who argued he was denied his free speech rights as a private citizen. Jeff Graham, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023
Adverb
The Chiefs emerged from their tunnel right before kickoff as those heavy metal guitars and drums built toward takeoff … yet the whole experience fell flat with the Arrowhead crowd. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023 Using technology without protection is like getting into a car without wearing a seatbelt when an accident is right around the corner. Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2023 For nearly half a century, being right felt wrong to Carol Wilson. Stephen Saito, Variety, 8 Sep. 2023 Polly sat down again with Women's Health right before the season 2 premiere to talk about the O Group drama and…that kiss. Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 8 Sep. 2023 Tickets are starting around $160 on most of the sites right now and reach over $1,000 for prime spots right near the sideline. Mark Stock, Men's Health, 8 Sep. 2023 With spooky season right around the corner, who doesn't want a little thrill? Netflix has quite a collection of thrillers right now, with some new hits this year for the devoted fan looking for a new fave, and plenty of classics for people searching for a deep cut. Starr Savoy, ELLE, 28 Aug. 2023 Chick-fil-A’s Caramel Crumble Milkshake is almost here, and Starbucks and Dunkin’ have already brought back Pumpkin Spice—in other words, fall is right around the corner (even if the outdoor temperatures say differently). Staff Author, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2023 In the pictures added on August 21, fans see Ana wearing a white dress that hit right above her knees and had a sweetheart neckline with a bow tied at the front. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 26 Aug. 2023
Verb
The Nobel Assembly should right this wrong by awarding a posthumous Nobel to Franklin for her central role in the discovery of the double-helix structure. Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023 Anna, which won the contest last year, has a chance to right the ship with a game against Fort Worth All Saints. Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 17 Sep. 2023 Like a seasoned quarterback, the cheerleader kept his composure and promptly righted the situation. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023 But some employers, Thompson said, actually are going to right up to the $5,250 limit and offering eligible employees the chance to claim up to $437.50 a month to pay student loan bills. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2023 And could any one leader or entity come in and try to right the ship going forward? Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023 The boat was righted and towed into a marina in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 30 Aug. 2023 His ascension may rattle anew CNN’s employee base, who have watched a quick succession of senior teams try to right the ship since the ouster of Jeff Zucker, CNN’s former leader. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Aug. 2023 Rob Thomson righted the Phillies, who were 34-34 in mid-June and are now firmly in command of a playoff spot. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'right.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English riht; akin to Old High German reht right, Latin rectus straight, right, regere to lead straight, direct, rule, rogare to ask, Greek oregein to stretch out

Noun

Middle English, from Old English riht, from riht, adjective

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of right was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near right

Cite this Entry

“Right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

right

1 of 4 adjective
1
2
: following what is just, good, or proper
right conduct
3
: agreeing with facts or truth : correct
the right answer
4
: appropriate entry 2, suitable
the right person for the job
the right tool
5
: straight sense 1
a right line
6
7
a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body which is away from the side on which the heart is mostly located
the right leg
b
: located nearer to the right side of the body
the right arm of the chair
8
: being shaped in such a way that a line drawn from the middle of the top to the middle of the base is perpendicular to the base
a right cone
9
: being or meant to be the side on top, in front, or on the outside
landed right side up
right side out
10
: acting or judging in a way that agrees with truth or fact
time proved us right
11
: healthy in mind or body
did not feel right
12
: most worth having or seeking
the right neighborhoods
the right people
rightness noun

right

2 of 4 noun
1
: the ideal of what is just and good
2
: something to which one has a just claim
often used in plural
the right to freedom of religion
the movie rights to a story
3
: something that one may properly claim as due
knowing the truth is her right
4
: the cause of truth or justice
fighting for right
5
a
: the right side or the part on the right side
b
: a turn to the right
take a right at the stop sign
6
: the quality or state of being factually correct
there's both right and wrong in that argument
7
often capitalized : the members of a European legislative body sitting to the right of the officer in charge and holding more conservative political views than other members
8
often capitalized : political conservatives

right

3 of 4 adverb
1
: according to right
live right
2
: in the exact location or position : precisely
right where you left it
3
: in a suitable, proper, or desired manner
hold your pen right
4
: in a direct line or course
go right home
5
: according to fact or truth : truly
guess right
heard right
6
: all the way
windows right to the floor
7
: without delay : immediately
right at 2 o'clock
8
: to a great degree : very
a right pleasant day

right

4 of 4 verb
1
: to make right (something wrong or unjust)
2
a
: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition
b
: to bring or restore to an upright position
3
: to become upright
righter noun

Medical Definition

right

adjective
: of, relating to, or being the side of the body which is away from the heart and on which the hand is stronger in most people
her right foot
also : located nearer to this side than to the left
right adverb

Legal Definition

right

noun
ˈrīt
1
a
: qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
b
: something that is morally just
able to distinguish right from wrong
2
: something to which one has a just claim: as
a
: a power, privilege, or condition of existence to which one has a natural claim of enjoyment or possession
the right of liberty
that all men…are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rightsDeclaration of Independence
see also natural right
b
: a power, privilege, immunity, or capacity the enjoyment of which is secured to a person by law
one's constitutional rights
c
: a legally enforceable claim against another that the other will do or will not do a given act
the defendant may be under a legal duty…to exercise reasonable care for the plaintiff's safety, so that the plaintiff has a corresponding legal right to insist on that careW. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
d
: the interest that one has in property : a claim or title to property
often used in pl.
leasing mineral rights
see also real right
e
plural : the interest in property possessed (as under copyright law) in an intangible thing and especially an item of intellectual property
obtained publishing rights
3
: a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price
rightful adjective
rightfully adverb
Etymology

Noun

Old English riht, from riht righteous

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