Definition of “right” - English Dictionary

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“right” in English

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rightadjective

uk ​ /raɪt/ us ​ /raɪt/

right adjective (CORRECT)

A1 correct:

You got three answers right and two wrong.
I set the clock to the right time.
"Is that Ms Kramer?" "Yes, that's right."
Am I right in thinking (= is it true) that you will be at the conference?
You're right to be annoyed - you've been treated very badly.
You must put matters right (= make the situation better) by telling the truth.
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wrong adjective

A1 If you are right about something or someone, you are correct in your judgment or statement about it, him, or her:

You were right about Pete - he's a real troublemaker.

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right adjective (SUITABLE)

B1 suitable or correct, or as it should be:

He's the right person for the job.
I think you've made the right decision.
The temperature of the swimming pool was just right (= exactly as I wanted it).
That hat looks just right on you.
He thought the time was right to let his intentions be known.
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wrong adjective

› used to refer to a person who is considered to be socially important or a place that such people go to:

She knows all the right people.
He likes to be seen in the right clubs and restaurants.
the right way round/up UK US the right way around/up

› in the correct position:

The lid has to go on the right way round or it won't fit.
Keep the bottle the right way up.

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right adjective (MORALLY ACCEPTABLE)

B2 [ after verb ] considered fair or morally acceptable by most people:

I don't believe they should have put him in prison. It isn't right.
[ + to infinitive ] It's not right to criticize people behind their back.
[ + that ] It is only (= completely) right that men and women should be paid the same for doing the same work.
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wrong adjective

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right adjective (DIRECTION)

A2 on or towards the side of your body that is to the east when you are facing north:

Most people write with their right hand.
He likes to sleep on the right side of the bed.
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left adjective adverb

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Idiom(s)

be (as) right as rain
be not (quite) right in the head
be not in your right mind
be on the right lines
be on the right track
give your right arm
in the right place at the right time
press/push the right button(s)
put/set sb right
a right one
the right stuff

rightadverb

uk ​ /raɪt/ us ​ /raɪt/

right adverb (DIRECTION)

A2 on or towards the side of your body that is to the east when you are facing north:

Turn/Go right (= take the road on the right) at the first traffic lights.

right adverb (EXACTLY)

B1 exactly or all the way:

I've got a pimple right on the end of my nose.
They built a row of hotels right along the sea-front.

› used for emphasis:

The car ran right (= completely) out of fuel.
She walked right (= all the way) past me without noticing me.
I'll be right back/I'll be right with you (= I will return very soon).
right away/now

B1 immediately:

You'd better leave right now.
right now

› at the present time:

We're very busy right now.

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right adverb (IN TITLES)

› used as part of the title of particular people, such as bishops and some members of Parliament:

the Right Honourable Diane Abbott, MP

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Grammar

Right or rightly?We use both right and rightly as adverbs, but they are used in different ways and with different meanings. …

Idiom(s)

right behind sb
right, left, and centre

rightnoun

uk ​ /raɪt/ us ​ /raɪt/

right noun (DIRECTION)

A2 [ S ] the right side:

English is written and read from left to right.
King's Avenue is the first right (= the first road on the right side).
In this photo, my wife is the woman standing on/to my right.
US I took/made (informal hung) a right (= turned into the next road on the right side) after crossing the bridge.

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right noun (POLITICS)

the right also the Right [ S, + sing/pl verb ]

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C2 political parties or people that have traditional opinions, and that believe in low taxes, property, and industry being privately owned, and less help for the poor:

The right was/were in power after 1979.
He's a man of the far (= extreme) right.
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left noun

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right noun (MORALLY ACCEPTABLE)

B2 [ U ] what is considered to be morally good or acceptable:

Your conscience should tell you the difference between right and wrong.
in the right

› If you are in the right, what you are doing is morally or legally correct.

B2 [ C or U ] the fact that a person or animal can expect to be treated in a fair, morally acceptable, or legal way, or to have the things that are necessary for life:

She campaigned for women's rights during the 1960s.
Everyone has a right to education.
She has no more right to a company car than I have (= she does not deserve one more than I do).
[ + to infinitive ] You're not my boss, so what right (= authority) do you have to tell me what to do?
You have every right (= you have a good reason) to complain.
within your rights

› If you are within your rights to do something, you are legally allowed to do it:

I think I'm quite within my rights to demand a full refund.
rights [ plural ]

› legal controls over who is allowed to use a book or film:

He has acquired the film rights to the book (= he is allowed to make a film of the book).

› new shares in a particular company that have become available for people to buy who already own shares:

The company made a rights issue of one new share for every four held.
put/set sth to rights

› to improve or correct something:

The company needs over a million dollars to set its finances to rights.

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Idiom(s)

by right of
by rights
in your own right
the rights and wrongs

rightexclamation

uk ​ /raɪt/ us ​ /raɪt/ informal

right exclamation (AGREEMENT)

A2 used to express agreement with someone or to show that you have understood what someone has said:

"Johnny, you climb up first." "Right."

A2 said when you want to make a group of people notice you, especially so that you can start an activity:

Right, everyone. Could you all stop talking, and then we'll begin.

› said between parts of a story that you are telling, in order to make certain that people are paying attention and understanding:

So there I was right, middle of the night, right, and this guy came up to me...

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Grammar

Tags …
Tags: usesTags are either questions, statements or imperatives added to a clause to invite a response from the listener: …
Tags: formTags consist of one of the auxiliary verbs be, do or have, or the main verb be, or a modal verb, plus a subject, which is most commonly a pronoun: …
Question tagsQuestion tags turn statements into yes-no questions. There are two types. …
Imperative tagsA tag after an imperative clause softens the imperative a little. The tag verb is most commonly will but we can also use would, could, can and won’t: …
Statement tagsWe can use a statement tag to emphasise or reinforce an affirmative statement. The tag is also affirmative. They typically invite the listener to agree or sympathise in some way, or to offer a parallel comment. Statement tags are very informal: …
Universal tags: right, yeahWe can use right and yeah in very informal situations instead of question tags: …

Idiom(s)

right you are!
too right

rightverb [ T ]

uk ​ /raɪt/ us ​ /raɪt/

(Definition of “right” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“right” in American English

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rightadjective, adverb

us ​ /rɑɪt/

right adjective, adverb (CORRECT)

› correct, true, or exact:

He said the trip would take two hours and he was absolutely/exactly right.
My watch has stopped – do you have the right time?
Ellen is the right person for the job.
She got every answer right.

right adjective, adverb (SUITABLE)

› suitable or desirable, or as it should be:

[ + to infinitive ] He thought the time was right to expand his new business.
That hat looks just right on you.

right adjective, adverb (HEALTHY)

› [ not gradable ] healthy, or working correctly:

I haven’t felt right all day.

right adjective, adverb (MORAL RULE)

› [ not gradable ] considered fair or morally acceptable by most people:

It isn’t right to tell a lie.

Idiom(s)

get off on the right foot
right away
right on
right on (the money)

rightadjective

us ​ /rɑɪt/

right adjective (WISE)

› having or showing good judgment; wise:

[ + to infinitive ] The president was right to veto that bill.
I think we reached the right conclusion.

rightnoun

us ​ /rɑɪt/

right noun (LEGAL OPPORTUNITY)

› social studies [ C ] your opportunity to act and to be treated in particular ways that the law promises to protect for the benefit of society:

civil/human rights
You have a right to a trial by jury.
[ + to infinitive ] Patients have a right to keep their medical records confidential.
The dispute is over fishing rights.

right noun (POLITICS)

› politics & government [ U ] political groups that believe in limited government and economic controls, private ownership of property and wealth, and traditional social attitudes

rightadjective, adverb, noun [ C/U ]

us ​ /rɑɪt/

right adjective, adverb, noun [ C/U ] (DIRECTION)

› the side of the body opposite the side that contains the heart, or the direction that is the opposite of left:

Most people throw a ball with their right hand.
Our house is on the right.
[ C ] After you go over the bridge, make a right (= turn to the right).

rightexclamation

us ​ /rɑɪt/

right exclamation (AGREEMENT)

› used to express agreement with someone or to show that you have understood what someone has said:

"Robert, be sure to pick up Susan on your way home." "Right."

rightadverb [ not gradable ]

us ​ /rɑɪt/

right adverb [ not gradable ] (EXACTLY)

› exactly; just:

I’m too busy to talk right now but I’ll get back to you later.
He sat right behind me.
I’ll be right back (= I will return very soon).

(Definition of “right” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“right” in Business English

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rightnoun

uk ​ /raɪt/ us ​

› [ C or U ] someone who has the right to something, or the right to do something, is allowed to have it or do it, often legally or officially:

have a right to sth Everybody has a right to equal treatment.
have the right to do sth Shareholders have the right to vote on the appointment of a new CEO.
She is a leading campaigner for consumer rights.
workers'/employment rights
human/civil rights
voting/property rights
rights [ plural ]

› LAW if a person, company, or organization has the rights to something, they are legally allowed to buy, sell, broadcast, etc. that thing:

If the group loses the court case, it will lose its exclusive rights to broadcast live games.
distribution rights
film/TV/broadcasting rights
licensing/marketing rights
all rights reserved

› LAW a phrase used to show that a particular person or particular people own the rights to a book, film, etc.

rights [ plural ]

› STOCK MARKET new shares in a particular company that have become available for existing shareholders to buy:

The company made a rights issue of one new share for every four held.

See also

ex-rights
grandfather rights
inalienable right
moral rights
patent right
pension rights
performing rights
pre-emption rights
property rights
proprietary rights
stock right

(Definition of “right” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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