Right | Mean of right in English Dictionary

/ˈraɪt/

• morally or socially correct or acceptable
1. Stealing is not right.
2. You can't treat me like this! It's not right!
3. You were right to tell the teacher about the girl who you saw cheating.
4. Telling the teacher was the right thing to do.
5. (chiefly Brit) “After I was treated so rudely, I complained to the management.” “And quite right, too!” [=complaining was the right thing to do]
6. Since they helped him, it's only right that he should help them too. [=since they helped him, he should help them too]
• agreeing with the facts or truth
1. the right answer
2. “Is that clock right? Is it noon already?” “Yes. That's right.”
3. There's something not quite right about his story.
4. Their theory was proved right.
5. Let me get this right —you want me to lend you $1,000?!
• speaking, acting, or judging in a way that agrees with the facts or truth
1. You're right; the answer is six.
2. I bet you like baseball. Am I right?
3. Am I right in thinking that he should have never loaned her the money?
4. We thought it was a bad idea, and time proved us right.
5. He was right about her not having a job.
6. “Relationships aren't easy.” “You're definitely right about that.”
7. Let me put/set you right about one thing: I did not start this argument!
8. You're right to take things slowly with your new boyfriend.

• suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose, situation, or person
1. She is the right person for the job.
2. They're not right for each other.
3. You made the right decision.
4. Let me show you the right way to do it.
5. He kept practicing his technique until he got it right.
6. Hold the bat like this—that's right!
7. This apartment is just the right size.
8. That picture would be just right [=perfect] for my living room.
9. I need to find the right moment to ask him for the money.
10. I don't have the right tools to do the job.
11. I'll buy the car if the price is right.
12. He knows all the right people to succeed in this business.
13. Becoming a star is often a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
14. He always knows the right thing to say.
• in a normal or healthy state or condition
1. I don't feel quite right. [=I feel somewhat ill]
2. The fish you bought doesn't smell right. [=it doesn't smell the way it should]
3. (informal) That boy is not right in the head.
4. She is not in her right mind. [=she is mentally ill]
• in a proper state or condition
1. Things are not right between them. [=they do not have a good/happy relationship]
2. He apologized and tried to put/set things right (with her).
• located on the side of your body that is away from your heart
1. He felt a pain in his right side.
2. her right hand/leg
• done with your right hand
1. He hit him with a right hook to the jaw.
• located nearer to the right side of your body than to the left
1. on the right side of the street
2. a chair's right arm
3. taking a right turn
• complete or total
1. I felt a right fool after making that mistake!
2. We were in a right mess!
• in excellent health or condition
1. After a few days of rest, you'll be right as rain again.
• in the exact location, position, or moment that is mentioned
1. The keys are right where I said they would be.
2. “Where are my keys?” “They're right here/there.”
3. The bank is right next to the pharmacy.
4. The parking lot is right in front/back of the building.
5. He left his bags right in the middle of the floor.
6. She was waiting right outside the door.
7. The ball hit me right in the face.
8. We arrived right at noon.
9. I'm right behind you.
10. You are right on time.
11. When the boss yelled at him, he quit right then and there.
12. If you need me, I am right here for you. [=I am available to support/help you]
• in a direct course or manner
1. We went right [=straight, directly] home after the game.
2. He walked right past me without saying hello.
3. Come right this way, please.
4. She came right out and said it. [=she said it without hesitating]
• in a way that agrees with the facts or truth
1. You guessed right.
2. You heard right. I got the job.
• in a suitable, proper, or desired way
1. He eats right and exercises daily.
2. You're not doing it right. [=correctly]
3. Nothing is going right for me today.
• all the way
1. We stayed up to watch the game right to the very end.
2. The car went right [=completely] off the road.
3. The baby slept right through the night.
• without delay
1. She got pregnant right after they got married.
2. I'll be right with you.
3. He stepped out for a moment, but he'll be right back.
• toward the right
1. Turn right.
2. She looked right and then left.
3. Please move right.
4. She ran right and caught the ball.
• towards the political right
1. a political party that has shifted right
2. His political views are slightly right of center. [=are slightly conservative]
• using the right hand
1. He bats/throws right. [=right-handed]
• in a complete manner
1. He felt right [=completely] at home at his new job.
2. She knew right [=(more commonly) very] well what was happening.
• in a very quick and uncontrolled way
1. She has been spending money right and left.
2. He was calling out names right and left.
3. The police were stopping cars right and left.
• without delay or hesitation
1. Please send out this letter right away.
2. I could tell right off that he was lying.
• in the next moment
1. Please clean up this mess right now.
• at the present time
1. He is out of the office right now.
• Noun
• behavior that is morally good or correct
1. He's old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. = He's old enough to know right from wrong.
2. You did right [=you did the right thing] to tell the teacher.
3. (old-fashioned) He always tried to do right by his employees. [=to treat his employees fairly]
4. We discussed the rights and wrongs of genetic cloning.
• something that a person is or should be morally or legally allowed to have, get, or do
1. women fighting for equal rights
2. The government has denied the people their rights. [=has not allowed the people to do the things that they should be allowed to do]
3. Knowing the truth is her right.
4. She has a right to know the truth.
5. They demanded the right to vote.
6. You have no right to order me around!
7. What gives you the right to read my diary?
8. He has every right to be angry.
9. You are within your rights to demand a refund. [=you have the right to demand a refund]
10. The government must protect the rights of its citizens.
11. the constitutional right of privacy
• the legal authority to reproduce, publish, broadcast, or sell something
1. broadcast rights
2. movie rights
3. The poet's family owns the publishing rights to all his books.
• a location closer to the right side of your body than to the left
1. Swing the bat from right to left.
2. As you come down the street, my house will be on your/the right.
3. Move it to the right.
4. The picture is to the right of the window.
• a turn or movement toward the right
1. Take a right at the next intersection. = (US) Make/hang a right at the next intersection.
2. two rights and then a left
• a punch made with the right hand
1. He hit him with a left to the stomach followed by a right to the jaw.
• political groups who favor traditional attitudes and practices and conservative policies
1. His nomination is opposed by the country's Right.
2. The new law is disliked by the Right.
3. Members of the Right have voiced their opinions on this matter.
• the position of people who support the beliefs and policies of the political Right
1. The party has shifted to the right. [=has become more conservative]
• according to what is legally or morally correct
1. The money is mine by right. [=I have the right to have the money]
• according to what is proper and reasonable
1. By rights, you should have been the one to receive the promotion.
• with proof that you are guilty
1. The police had him dead to rights.
2. She was caught dead to rights on a bribery charge.
• with no chance of winning or succeeding
1. The other team had us dead to rights by the end of the first half.
• because of its own special qualities and not because of a connection with something else
1. Though it's based on a best-selling novel, the movie is great in its own right.
• in the position or situation of being right
1. You are in the right to demand a refund/apology.
2. The judge agreed that he was in the right.
• because of your own efforts, talent, etc., and not because of your connection with someone else
1. Her husband is a well-known novelist, but she is a successful writer in her own right.
• to put (something) back into the normal or proper condition
1. He helped his mother put things to rights [=put things in order] after his father died.
• Verb
• to make (something) right
1. It was time to right an old wrong.
2. No one can right all the wrongs in the world.
• to return (something) to a proper state or condition
1. The government needs to do something to right the economy.
• to put (something or someone) back in an upright position
1. They righted the capsized boat.
2. He quickly righted himself after he fell off the chair.