right

right

I [ra͟ɪt]CORRECT, APPROPRIATE, OR ACCEPTABLE
 
 rights, righting, righted
 (Please look at category 17 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)
 1) ADJ If something is right, it is correct and agrees with the facts.
  That's absolutely right...
  Clocks never told the right time...
  You chip away at the problem until somebody comes up with the right answer...
  The barman tells me you saw Ann on Tuesday morning. Is that right?
  Syn:
  correct
  Ant:
  wrong
  Derived words:
  rightly ADV ADV after v She attended one meeting only, if I remember rightly.
 ADV: ADV after v
 Right is also an adverb. He guessed right about some things.
 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n If you do something in the right way or in the right place, you do it as or where it should be done or was planned to be done.
  Walking, done in the right way, is a form of aerobic exercise...
  They have computerized systems to ensure delivery of the right pizza to the right place...
  The chocolate is then melted down to exactly the right temperature.
  Syn:
  correctly
  Ant:
  wrong
 ADV: ADV after v
 Right is also an adverb. To make sure I did everything right, I bought a fat instruction book.
 3) ADJ: usu ADJ n If you say that someone is seen in all the right places or knows all the right people, you mean that they go to places which are socially acceptable or know people who are socially acceptable.
  He was always to be seen in the right places...
  Through his father, he had met all the right people.
  Ant:
  wrong
 4) ADJ If someone is right about something, they are correct in what they say or think about it.
  Ron has been right about the result of every General Election but one...
  Is that true? Was she right?...
  Am I right in thinking you're the only person in the club who's actually played at Wembley?
  Syn:
  correct
  Ant:
  wrong
  Derived words:
  rightly ADV He rightly assumed that the boy was hiding.
 5) ADJ If something such as a choice, action, or decision is the right one, it is the best or most suitable one.
  She'd made the right choice in leaving New York...
  The right decision was made, but probably for the wrong reasons...
  They decided the time was right for their escape.
  Syn:
  correct
  Ant:
  wrong
  Derived words:
  rightly ADV ADV with v She hoped she'd decided rightly.
 6) ADJ: v-link ADJ, with brd-neg If something is not right, there is something unsatisfactory about the situation or thing that you are talking about.
  Ratatouille doesn't taste right with any other oil...
  The name Sue Anne never seemed quite right to Molly...
  He went into hospital and came out after a week. But he still wasn't right.
  Ant:
  wrong
 7) ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to-inf If you think that someone was right to do something, you think that there were good moral reasons why they did it.
  You were right to do what you did, under the circumstances...
  The president was absolutely right in ordering the bombing raid.
  Ant:
  wrong
  Derived words:
  rightly ADV ADV before v, ADV with cl The crowd screamed for a penalty but the referee rightly ignored them... Education, quite rightly, is currently at the forefront of the political agenda.
 8) ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft with brd-neg Right is used to refer to activities or actions that are considered to be morally good and acceptable.
  It's not right, leaving her like this...
  Fox hunting is popular among some people in this country. It doesn't make it right though...
  The BBC thought it was right and proper not to show the film.
  Ant:
  wrong
  Derived words:
  rightness N-UNCOUNT usu N of n Many people have very strong opinions about the rightness or wrongness of abortion.
 N-UNCOUNT
 Right is also a noun. At least he knew right from wrong.
 9) VERB If you right something or if it rights itself, it returns to its normal or correct state, after being in an undesirable state.
  [V n] They recognise the urgency of righting the economy...
  [V pron-refl] Your eyesight rights itself very quickly.
 10) VERB If you right a wrong, you do something to make up for a mistake or something bad that you did in the past.
  [V n] We've made progress in righting the wrongs of the past...
  [V n] Having spent 25 years righting his own mistakes, he is anxious that children should not waste opportunities.
  Syn:
  rectify
 11) VERB If you right something that has fallen or rolled over, or if it rights itself, it returns to its normal upright position.
  [V n] He righted the yacht and continued the race...
  [V pron-refl] The helicopter turned at an awful angle before righting itself.
 12) ADJ: ADJ n The right side of a material is the side that is intended to be seen and that faces outwards when it is made into something.
  Ant:
  wrong
 13) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that things are going right, you mean that your life or a situation is developing as you intended or expected and you are pleased with it.
  I can't think of anything in my life that's going right...
  I was pleased with my performance on Saturday - everything went right.
  Ant:
  go wrong
 14) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If someone has behaved in a way which is morally or legally right, you can say that they are in the right. You usually use this expression when the person is involved in an argument or dispute.
  She wasn't entirely in the right...
  Legally, the local tax office is in the right.
  Ant:
  in the wrong
 15) PHRASE: V inflects If you put something right, you correct something that was wrong or that was causing problems.
  We've discovered what's gone wrong and are going to put it right.
 16) PHRASE You can use Mr Right, Miss Right, or Ms Right to talk about the kind of person that you imagine you will marry or spend the rest of your life with.
  She confesses to having trouble finding Mr Right.
  ...bachelors searching for Ms Right.
 17) heart in the right place → see heart
 it serves you right → see serve
 on the right side of → see sideII [ra͟ɪt]DIRECTION AND POLITICAL GROUPINGS
 
 (The spelling Right is also used for meanings 3 and 4.)
 1) N-SING: usu the N The right is one of two opposite directions, sides, or positions. If you are facing north and you turn to the right, you will be facing east. In the word `to', the `o' is to the right of the `t'.
  Ahead of you on the right will be a lovely garden...
  He looks to his left, up at the screen, then to his right.
  Ant:
  left
 ADV: ADV after v
 Right is also an adverb. Turn right into the street.
 2) ADJ: ADJ n Your right arm, leg, or ear, for example, is the one which is on the right side of your body. Your right shoe or glove is the one which is intended to be worn on your right foot or hand.
  Ant:
  left
 3) N-SING-COLL: the N You can refer to people who support the political ideals of capitalism and conservatism as the right. They are often contrasted with the left, who support the political ideals of socialism.
  The Tory Right despise him...
  The right attacks me for being irreligious.
  Ant:
  left
 4) N-SING: the N If you say that someone has moved to the right, you mean that their political beliefs have become more right-wing.
  They see the shift to the Right as a worldwide phenomenon.
  Ant:
  left
 5) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If someone is at a person's right hand, they work closely with that person so they can help and advise them.
  I think he ought to be at the right hand of the president.III [ra͟ɪt]ENTITLEMENT
 
 rights
 1) N-PLURAL: usu poss N Your rights are what you are morally or legally entitled to do or to have.
  They don't know their rights...
  You must stand up for your rights.
  ...voting rights.
 2) N-SING: usu N to-inf If you have a right to do or to have something, you are morally or legally entitled to do it or to have it.
  ...a woman's right to choose...
  People have the right to read any kind of material they wish.
 3) N-PLURAL: the N, usu with supp If someone has the rights to a story or book, they are legally allowed to publish it or reproduce it in another form, and nobody else can do so without their permission.
  An agent bought the rights to his life...
  He'd tried to buy the film rights of all George Bernard Shaw's plays.
 4) PHRASE: PHR with cl If something is not the case but you think that it should be, you can say that by rights it should be the case.
  She did work which by rights should be done by someone else.
 5) PHRASE: usu n adj PHR If someone is a successful or respected person in their own right, they are successful or respected because of their own efforts and talents rather than those of the people they are closely connected with.
  Although now a celebrity in her own right, actress Lynn Redgrave knows the difficulties of living in the shadow of her famous older sister...
  Their baby is a person in his own right.
 6) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR to-inf If you say that you reserve the right to do something, you mean that you will do it if you feel that it is necessary.
  He reserved the right to change his mind...
  The ministry said it reserved the right to take whatever action necessary.
 7) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you say that someone is within their rights to do something, you mean that they are morally or legally entitled to do it.
  You were quite within your rights to refuse to co-operate with him.
  Syn:
  justifiedIV [ra͟ɪt]DISCOURSE USES
 
 1) ADV: ADV cl You use right in order to attract someone's attention or to indicate that you have dealt with one thing so you can go on to another. [SPOKEN]
  Right, I'll be back in a minute...
  Wonderful. Right, let's go to our next caller.
 2) CONVENTION You can use right to check whether what you have just said is correct. [SPOKEN]
  They have a small plane, right?...
  So if it's not there now, the killer has it. Right?
 3) ADV: ADV as reply You can say `right' to show that you are listening to what someone is saying and that you accept it or understand it. [SPOKEN]
  `Your children may well come away speaking with a bit of a broad country accent' - `Right.' - `because they're mixing with country children.'
  Syn:
  yes
 4) → See also all right
 5) CONVENTION (feelings) You say `right on' to express your support or approval. [INFORMAL, OLD-FASHIONED, SPOKEN]
  He suggested that many of the ideas just would not work. But the tenor of his input was `Right on! Please show us how to make them work'.
 6) PHRASE If someone says `right you are', they are agreeing to do something in a very willing and happy way. [INFORMAL, SPOKEN]
  `I want a word with you when you stop.' - `Right you are.'
  Syn:
  OKV [ra͟ɪt]USED FOR EMPHASIS
 
 1) ADV: ADV adv/prep (emphasis) You can use right to emphasize the precise place, position, or time of something.
  The back of a car appeared right in front of him.
  ...a charming resort right on the Italian frontier...
  I had to decide right then.
 2) ADV: ADV prep/adv (emphasis) You can use right to emphasize how far something moves or extends or how long it continues.
  ...the highway that runs through the Indian zone right to the army positions...
  She was kept very busy right up to the moment of her departure...
  It was taken right there on a conveyor belt.
  Syn:
  all the way
 3) ADV: ADV adv/prep (emphasis) You can use right to emphasize that an action or state is complete.
  The candle had burned right down...
  If somebody fell in that water we could throw them a rope and pull them right out!
 4) ADJ: ADJ n (emphasis) You can use right to emphasize a noun, usually a noun referring to something bad. [BRIT, INFORMAL]
  He gave them a right telling off...
  England's European Championship plans are in a right mess.
  Syn:
  real
 5) ADV: ADV prep/adv (emphasis) If you say that something happened right after a particular time or event or right before it, you mean that it happened immediately after or before it.
  All of a sudden, right after the summer, Mother gets married...
  She then decided right before the opening to make a dramatic announcement.
  Syn:
  just
 6) ADV: ADV adv (emphasis) If you say I'll be right there or I'll be right back, you mean that you will get to a place or get back to it in a very short time.
  I'm going to get some water. I'll be right back.
 7) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl (emphasis) If you do something right away or right off, you do it immediately. [INFORMAL]
  He wants to see you right away...
  I knew right away she was dead...
  Right off I want to confess that I was wrong.
  Syn:
  straight away
 8) PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) You can use right now to emphasize that you are referring to the present moment. [INFORMAL]
  Right now I'm feeling very excited...
  I'm warning you; stop it right now!VI [ra͟ɪt]USED IN TITLES
 right
 ADV: ADV adj
 Right is used in some British titles. It indicates high rank or status.
  ...The Right Reverend John Baker.
  ...the Right Honourable Lynn Jones MP.
  ...the Right Honourable Michael Portillo.