right
right [right rights righted righting] adjective, adverb, noun, verb, exclamation BrE [raɪt] NAmE [raɪt]
adjective
MORALLY GOOD
1. not usually before noun ~ (to do sth) morally good or acceptable; correct according to law or a person's duty
• You were quite right to criticize him.
• Is it ever right to kill?
•It seems only right to warn you of the risk.
•I hope we're doing the right thing.
Opp: ↑wrong
TRUE/CORRECT
2. true or correct as a fact
• Did you get the answer right?
• ‘What's the right time?’ ‘10.37.’
•‘David, isn't it?’ ‘Yes, that's right.’
• (informal)It was Monday you went to see Angie, right?
•Let me get this right (= understand correctly) — you want us to do an extra ten hours' work for no extra pay?
Opp: ↑wrong
3. correct for a particular situation or thing, or for a particular person
• Have you got the right money (= the exact amount) for the bus fare?
• Is this the right way to the beach?
•You're not holding it the right way up.
•Are you sure you've got that on the right way round?
•Next time we'll get it right.
•He's the right man for the job.
•I'm glad you split up. She wasn't right for you.
•I was waiting for the right moment to ask him.
•She knows all the right people (= important people, for example those who can help her career).
•His success was down to being in the right place at the right time (= being able to take opportunities when they came).
Opp: ↑wrong
4. not before noun correct in your opinion or judgement
•~ (about sth) She was right about Tom having no money.
•~ (to do sth) You're right to be cautious.
•‘It's not easy.’ ‘Yeah, you're right.’
•~ (in doing sth) Am I right in thinking we've met before?
Opp: ↑wrong
NORMAL
5. not before noun in a normal or good enough condition
• I don't feel quite right today (= I feel ill/sick).
• That sausage doesn't smell right.
•Things aren't right between her parents.
•If only I could have helped put matters right.
•He's not quite right in the head (= not mentally normal).
Opp: ↑wrong
NOT LEFT
6. only before noun of, on or towards the side of the body that is towards the east when a person faces north
•my right eye
• Keep on the right side of the road.
• Take a right turn at the intersection.
see also ↑right-wing, Opp: ↑left
COMPLETE
7. only before noun (BrE, informal, especially disapproving)used to emphasize sth bad
•You made a right mess of that!
•I felt a right idiot.
see also ↑all right
more at press/push all the right buttons at ↑button v., get/start off on the right/wrong foot (with sb) at ↑foot n., have your head screwed on (the right way) at ↑head n., sb's heart is in the right place at ↑heart, have the right idea at ↑idea, left, right and centreright, left and centre at ↑left adv., might is right at ↑might n., Mr Right at ↑Mr, hit/strike the right/wrong note at ↑note n., get on the right/wrong side of sbon the right/wrong side of forty, fifty, etc. at ↑side n., on the right/wrong track at ↑track n.
Word Origin:
Old English riht (adjective and noun), rihtan (verb), rihte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Latin rectus ‘ruled’, from an Indo-European root denoting movement in a straight line.
Thesaurus:
right adj.
1. not usually before noun
•Hunting may be legal, but that doesn't make it right.
acceptable • • good • • proper • • justified • • justifiable • • decent • |formal due •
Opp: wrong
right/acceptable/good/proper/justified/justifiable to do sth
right/justified in doing sth
right/acceptable/good/proper that…
do the right/proper/decent thing
2.
•I got about half the answers right.
correct • • true •
Opp: wrong
right/correct about sth
the right/correct/true answer
the right/correct time
Right or correct? Correct is more formal than right and is more likely to be used in official instructions or documents.
3.
•He's definitely the right man for this job.
good • • appropriate • • suitable • • convenient • • apt • • fit • |informal cut out for/to be sth • |formal fitting •
Opp: wrong
right/good/appropriate/suitable/convenient/apt/fit/cut out/fitting for sb/sth
right/good/appropriate/suitable/convenient/apt/fit/fitting that…
right/good/appropriate/suitable/convenient/fit/fitting to do sth
Which word? How good, appropriate or suitable sb/sth is is a matter of judgement; how right sb/sth is is more a matter of fact:
•Do you think she would be a/an good/appropriate/suitable person to ask?
✗ a right person to ask:
•She's definitely the right person to ask.
✗ She's definitely the good/appropriate/suitable person to ask.
4.
•You're right to be cautious in this situation.
correct • |especially BrE proper •
Opp: wrong
right/correct about sb/sth
right/correct to do sth
right/correct in thinking/believing/saying sth
the right/correct/proper decision/judgement/conclusion/way/method/approach
Right, correct or proper? People can be right or correct about sth, but not proper: ✗ You're proper to be cautious. Correct and proper are more often used to talk about methods; right is more often used to talk about beliefs and decisions.
Synonyms:
mad
crazy • nuts • batty • out of your mind • (not) in your right mind
These are all informal words that describe sb who has a mind that does not work normally.
mad • (informal, especially BrE) having a mind that does not work normally: ▪ I thought I'd go mad if I stayed any longer.
Mad is an informal word used to suggest that sb's behaviour is very strange, often because of extreme emotional pressure. It is offensive if used to describe sb suffering from a real mental illness; use mentally ill instead. Mad is not usually used in this meaning in North American English; use crazy instead.
crazy • (informal, especially NAmE) having a mind that does not work normally: ▪ A crazy old woman rented the upstairs room.
Like mad, crazy is offensive if used to describe sb suffering from a real mental illness.
nuts • [not before noun] (informal) mad: ▪ That noise is driving me nuts! ◇ ▪ You guys are nuts!
batty • (informal, especially BrE) slightly mad, in a harmless way: ▪ Her mum's completely batty.
out of your mind • (informal) unable to think or behave normally, especially because of extreme shock or anxiety: ▪ She was out of her mind with grief.
(not) in your right mind • (informal) (not) mentally normal: ▪ No one in their right mind ▪ would choose to work there.
to be mad/crazy/nuts/out of your mind/not in your right mind to do sth
to go mad/crazy/nuts/batty
to drive sb mad/crazy/nuts/batty/out of their mind
completely mad/crazy/nuts/batty/out of your mind
Synonyms:
right
correct
Both these words describe a belief, opinion, decision or method that is suitable or the best one for a particular situation.
right • if sb is right to do or think sth, that is a good thing to do or think in that situation: ▪ You're right to be cautious. ◇ ▪ You made the right decision. ◇ ▪ ‘It's not easy.’ ‘Yes, you're right.’
correct • (of a method, belief, opinion or decision) right and suitable in a particular situation: ▪ What's the correct way to shut the machine down? ◇ ▪ I don't think she's correct to say he's incompetent.
right or correct?
Correct is more formal than right. It is more often used for methods and right is more often used for beliefs, opinions and decisions.
right/correct about sb/sth
right/correct to do sth
right/correct in thinking/believing/saying sth
the right/correct decision/judgement/conclusion
the right/correct way/method/approach
absolutely/quite right/correct
Synonyms:
true
right • correct
These words all describe sth that cannot be doubted as fact and includes no mistakes.
true • connected with facts rather than things that have been invented or guessed: ▪ Are the following statements ▪ true or false ▪? ◇ ▪ Is it ▪ true (that) ▪ she's leaving?
right • that is true and cannot be doubted as a fact: ▪ I got about half the answers right. ◇ ▪ What's the right time?
correct • right according to the facts and without any mistakes: ▪ Only one of the answers is correct. ◇ ▪ Check that all the details are correct.
right or correct?
Correct is more formal than right and is more likely to be used in official or formal instructions or documents.
right/correct about sb/sth
the true/right/correct answer
the right/correct time
Example Bank:
•He never gets anything right.
•I'm sure it'll all turn out right in the end.
•It may be a very easy way to make money, but that doesn't make it right.
•James did what he thought was right.
•She needs to get everything exactly right for her guests.
•The meat doesn't taste right to me.
•There's something not quite right about these figures.
•You were quite right about the weather.
•You're dead right. There's nothing we can do.
•‘David, isn't it?‘ ‘Yes, that's right.’
•‘I'll have to do it again.’ ‘ Too right you will.’
•‘It's not easy.’ ‘Yeah, you're right.’
•A few details are missing, but the description is more or less right.
•Am I right in thinking we've met before?
•Are you sure that sweater's on the right way (around)?
•Have you got the right money for the bus fare?
•He's definitely the right man for the job.
•He's made the right decision.
•His success was down to being in the right place at the right time.
•Hunting may be legal, but that doesn't make it right.
•I don't believe she's right in this case.
•I don't think she was right for you.
•I got about half the answers right.
•I hope we're doing the right thing.
•I think you were right to do what you did.
•I was doing what I thought was right.
•If only I could have helped put matters right.
•It was Monday you went to see Angie, right?
•It's right that he should be punished.
•Let me get this right, you want us to do ten hours' extra work for no extra pay?
•Next time we'll get it right.
•She's definitely the right person to ask.
•That sausage doesn't smell right.
•Things aren't right between her parents.
•What's the right time?
•What's the right way to do this?
•You were quite right to tell me.
•You're not holding it the right way up.
•You're right to be cautious.
Idioms: ↑bang to rights ▪ ↑do right by somebody ▪ ↑give your right arm for to do something ▪ ↑in your own right ▪ ↑in your right mind ▪ ↑put somebody to rights ▪ ↑right a wrong ▪ ↑right and left ▪ ↑right as rain ▪ ↑right enough ▪ ↑right now ▪ ↑right off ▪ ↑right off the bat ▪ ↑right on ▪ ↑right side up ▪ ↑right, left and centre ▪ ↑see somebody right ▪ ↑she'll be right ▪ ↑too right
Derived Word: ↑rightness
adverb
EXACTLY
1. exactly; directly
• Lee was standing right behind her.
• The wind was right in our faces.
•I'm right behind you on this one (= I am supporting you).
•The bus came right on time.
COMPLETELY
2. all the way; completely
• The car spun right off the track.
• I'm right out of ideas.
•She kept right on swimming until she reached the other side.
IMMEDIATELY
3. (informal)immediately; without delay
• I'll be right back.
• I'll be right with you (= I am coming very soon).
CORRECTLY
4. correctly
• You guessed right.
Opp: ↑wrong
SATISFACTORILY
5. in the way that things should happen or are supposed to happen
• Nothing's going right for me today.
Opp: ↑wrong
NOT LEFT
6. on or to the right side
• Turn right at the end of the street.
Opp: ↑left
more at (right) up your alley at ↑alley, hit sb (straight/right) in the eye at ↑hit v., it serves sb right (for doing sth) at ↑serve v., take the words right out of sb's mouth at ↑word n.
Word Origin:
Old English riht (adjective and noun), rihtan (verb), rihte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Latin rectus ‘ruled’, from an Indo-European root denoting movement in a straight line.
Which Word?:
right / rightly
Right and rightly can both be used as adverbs. In the sense ‘correctly’ or ‘in the right way’, right is the usual adverb. It is only used after verbs: ▪ He did it right. ◇ ▪ Did I spell your name right? Rightly cannot be used like this. In formal language correctly is used: ▪ Is your name spelled correctly?
The usual meaning of rightly is ‘for a good reason’ and it comes before an adjective: ▪ They are rightly proud of their children. It can be used to mean ‘correctly’ before a verb or in particular phrases: ▪ As you rightly say, we have a serious problem. In NAmE rightly is not at all common.
Example Bank:
•Nothing's going right for me today.
noun
STH MORALLY GOOD
1. uncountable, countable what is morally good or correct
• She doesn't understand the difference between right and wrong.
• You did right to tell me about it.
•They both had some right on their side.
•He wouldn't apologize. He knew he was in the right (= had justice on his side).
•It was difficult to establish the rights and wrongs (= the true facts) of the matter.
Opp: ↑wrong
MORAL/LEGAL CLAIM
2. countable, uncountable a moral or legal claim to have or get sth or to behave in a particular way
•~ (to sth) Everyone has a right to a fair trial.
•~ (to do sth) You have no right to stop me from going in there.
•What gives you the right to do that?
•She had every right to be angry.
•You're quite within your rights to ask for your money back.
•By rights (= if justice were done) half the money should be mine.
•There is no right of appeal against the decision.
•Education is provided by the state as of right (= everyone has a right to it).
•The property belongs to her by right.
•They had fought hard for equal rights.
see also ↑animal rights, ↑civil rights, ↑human right
FOR BOOK/MOVIE, ETC.
3. rightsplural the authority to perform, publish, film, etc. a particular work, event, etc
• He sold the rights for $2 million.
•all rights reserved (= protected or kept for the owners of the book, film/movie, etc.)
NOT LEFT SIDE
4. the/sb's rightsingular the right side or direction
• Take the first street on the right.
• She seated me on her right.
Opp: ↑left
5. singular the first, second, etc. ~ the first, second, etc. road on the right side
• Take the first right, then the second left.
Opp: ↑left
6. a rightsingular a turn to the right
•to make a right
• (NAmE, informal)to hang a right
Opp: ↑left
POLITICS
7. the right, the Rightsingular + singular or plural verb political groups that most strongly support the ↑capitalist system
compare ↑right wing
• The Right in British politics is represented by the Conservative Party.
Opp: ↑left
8. the rightsingular + singular or plural verb the part of a political party whose members are most conservative
• He's on the right of the Labour Party.
Opp: ↑left
IN BOXING
9. countable a blow that is made with your right hand
Opp: ↑left
more at set/put the world to rights at ↑world, two wrongs don't make a right at ↑wrong n.
Word Origin:
Old English riht (adjective and noun), rihtan (verb), rihte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Latin rectus ‘ruled’, from an Indo-European root denoting movement in a straight line.
Culture:
freedom and rights
Many of the rights of US citizens are laid down in the Constitution and the first ten ↑amendments to it, which are together called the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was written in the late 1700s to explain not only how the US government would work, but also what limits there would be on its power. At that time, people were beginning to believe that the rights of individuals were important, and that the government was the main threat to those rights. Limiting the federal government's power was also seen as necessary to protect the rights of states within the United States.
Britain does not have a written constitution or legal document describing the rights of individuals but for British people freedom to live without interference from government is important. Proposals to introduce identity cards for everyone are always resisted and people often talk about the nanny state when they feel the government is interfering in their lives.
In Britain and the US the most basic rights include freedom of expression (= freedom to say or write what you think), freedom of choice (= freedom to make decisions about your own life) and freedom of worship (= freedom to practise any religion).
Freedom of expression does not imply complete freedom for people to say what they like. In the US the ↑First Amendment protects freedom of speech and of the press but the courts, especially the ↑Supreme Court, decide how it should be applied. For instance, a newspaper is not allowed to print something bad about a person that is known not to be true: this is libel. The courts do not practise prior restraint, i.e. they cannot stop a newspaper from printing something, but they can punish the newspaper afterwards. However, in a few cases, e.g. when national security is involved, the courts may order newspapers not to print a report.
The right to free speech in the US has not always been respected. In the 1950s, when ↑McCarthyism was at its height, people who were suspected of being Communists were called before ↑Congress to answer questions. People who used their right to free speech and said they believed in Communism, or who took the fifth, i.e. used their right under the ↑Fifth Amendment not to give evidence against themselves, often lost their jobs or went to prison.
In Britain until 1968 all plays had to be approved by the Lord Chamberlain before they could be performed in theatres. Censorship of the press ended in the 1960s. Newspapers are expected to behave responsibly and members of the public have the right to complain about what is published in the press to the ↑Press Complaints Commission.
The right of equal opportunity (= the right to be treated the same as others, regardless of race, sex, etc.) is enforced in Britain through the ↑Race Relations Acts and the ↑Sex Discrimination Act. In the US the ↑civil rights movement of the 1960s influenced the making of new laws to protect the rights of minority groups, especially ↑African Americans. In 1972 an ↑Equal Rights Amendment, which would have given women the same rights and opportunities as men, failed to get the support of enough states to be passed. Later, however, several laws were passed making it illegal to discriminate against women.
People in Britain and the US have a much valued right to privacy. The US and British ↑Freedom of Information Acts and the British ↑Data Protection Act allow a person access to information held about them and the opportunity to correct it if it is wrong.
In the US several amendments to the Constitution deal specifically with the rights of people suspected or accused of a crime. In Britain recent changes to ↑habeas corpus (= the right of a person detained by the police to be released within 24 hours if not charged) and the right to remain silent when arrested, which were introduced as part of the laws against terrorism, met with strong opposition from many people. It is now possible for the police to keep a person for 28 days before they are charged. In both Britain and the US the police are heavily criticized if people’s rights are infringed.
In the US an individual’s right to own weapons continues to cause disagreement. When this right was included in the Second Amendment, America had just finished fighting for independence. Since the US did not want to keep a permanent army, its defence in the case of future attacks depended on ordinary people having weapons. Many people believe that, since the US now has a professional army, individuals do not need guns, and that the interpretation of the amendment should take account of the modern situation. But others want to keep the right to have weapons and resist any changes to the law.
Thesaurus:
right noun
1. U, C, usually pl.
•She doesn't understand the difference between right and wrong.
good • • goodness • • purity • |formal virtue • |formal, especially religion righteousness •
Opp: wrong
do right/good
Right or good? Questions of right and wrong are about treating people in a fair way, not an unfair way. Matters of good and evil are about treating people in a kind way, not a cruel way.
2. C
•Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
claim • • power • • authority • • liberty • • due • • privilege • |formal birthright • |especially BrE, formal entitlement • |law title •
a/an right/claim/entitlement/title to sth
the right/power/authority/entitlement to do sth
have a/an/the right/claim/power/authority/privilege/entitlement/title
use/exercise your right/powers/authority/privilege/entitlement
Example Bank:
•A man had a natural right to subsist off the crops he grew on his own land.
•Abortion rights have been restricted in some places.
•Altman secured the movie rights.
•Any employee who is fired has an automatic right to appeal.
•Children of that age don't know right from wrong.
•Do I have any right to compensation?
•He claimed full rights over the discovery.
•He has reserved the movie rights.
•He renounced his right to the throne.
•He sold the film rights for $2 million.
•He's on the extreme right of the party.
•I appealed against the decision because I knew I had right on my side.
•I have a perfect right to park here if I want to.
•I reserve the right to leave at any time I choose.
•I suppose you think you have some God-given right to tell me what to do?
•Keep over to the right.
•Look out for traffic coming from the right.
•Lucas owned the marketing rights.
•Many prisoners lost visitation rights and had their mail confiscated.
•Ours is the first house on the right.
•She has every right to feel bitter.
•Take a right at the traffic lights.
•Take the first right, and then it's the second on your left.
•The Normans ruled England by right of conquest.
•The books are numbered from right to left.
•The company was granted offshore oil-drilling rights.
•The constitution guarantees basic human rights.
•The government extended voting rights to everyone over the age of 18.
•The landlord enforced his right to enter the property.
•The local authority exercises parental rights over the children until foster homes are found.
•The new president undertook to establish full rights for all minorities.
•The property belongs to her as of right.
•The team earned the bragging rights by taking first place in all three events.
•The teenagers claimed squatters' rights and were allowed to remain in the building.
•There is no public right of way across the fields.
•There's no doubt that he's in the right on this.
•These additional guarantees do not affect your statutory rights.
•They acquired her patent rights.
•They gave me my uncle's money, on condition that I waived all rights to his property.
•They have no right to come onto my land.
•We have a sovereign right to conduct scientific research on our soil.
•We promote the rights of communities.
•We sat discussing the rights and wrongs of the prison system.
•We were granted the exclusive rights to produce the software in Malaysia.
•You can't do that to me— I know my rights.
•You have a moral right to that money.
•You should stand up for your rights and insist that he pays you.
•You're acting entirely within your rights.
•a hallway immediately to the right of the front door
•animal rights campaigners
•equal rights for all
•human rights violations
•laws covering privacy rights
•roads where bikes have the right of way
•the basic rights of all citizens
•the civil rights movement
•the individual rights of its constituents
•the old idea of the divine right of kings
•the right of assembly/asylum/citizenship/free speech/ownership
•At that time, the gay rights movement had hardly been heard of.
•Before the late 19th century, little attention was paid to women's rights.
•By rights half the money should be mine.
•Education is provided by the state as of right.
•Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
•It was difficult to establish the rights and wrongs of the matter.
•People should understand that they have responsibilities as well as rights.
•She's a well-known animal rights campaigner.
•They both knew he was in the right.
•They had forfeited the right to return to their country.
•They have always fought hard for equal rights.
•They think they have a god-given right to park wherever they like.
•This is a fundamental human right.
•We're calling on all oppressed peoples to stand up for their rights.
•What gives you the right to do that?
•You have a statutory right to your money back if goods are faulty.
•You have absolutely no rights over the child.
•You have no right to stop me from going in there.
•You're quite within your rights to ask for your money back.
verb
RETURN TO POSITION
1. ~ sb/sth/yourself to return sb/sth/yourself to the normal, vertical position
•They learnt to right a capsized canoe.
•At last the plane righted itself and flew on.
CORRECT
2. ~ sth to correct sth that is wrong or not in its normal state
Syn: put right
•Righting the economy will demand major cuts in expenditure.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English riht (adjective and noun), rihtan (verb), rihte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Latin rectus ‘ruled’, from an Indo-European root denoting movement in a straight line.
Example Bank:
•Righting the economy would mean major cuts in defence spending.
•This is a time to right wrongs and heal divisions.
exclamation (BrE, informal)
1. used to show that you accept a statement or an order
•‘You may find it hurts a little at first.’ ‘Right.’
•‘Barry's here.’ ‘Oh, right.’
•‘I'll have a whisky and soda.’ ‘ Right you are, sir.’
2. used to get sb's attention to say that you are ready to do sth, or to tell them to do sth
•Right! Let's get going.
3. used to check that sb agrees with you or has understood you
•So that's twenty of each sort, right?
•And I didn't think any more of it, right, but Mum says I should see a doctor.
4. (ironic)used to say that you do not believe sb or that you disagree with them
•‘I won't be late tonight.’ ‘ Yeah, right.’
Word Origin:
Old English riht (adjective and noun), rihtan (verb), rihte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Latin rectus ‘ruled’, from an Indo-European root denoting movement in a straight line.
See also: ↑dead to rights ▪ ↑do somebody right
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