Idioms for right

Origin of right

before 900; (noun and adj.) Middle English; Old English reht, riht; cognate with Dutch, German recht, Old Norse rēttr, Gothic raihts; akin to Latin rēctus, Old Irish recht law, Greek orektós upright; (v.) Middle English righten, Old English rihtan, cognate with Old Frisian riuchta, German richten, Old Norse rētta; (adv.) Middle English; Old English rihte

usage note for right

47. Right in the sense of “very, extremely” is either archaic or dialectal. It is most common in informal speech and writing: It's right cold this morning. The editor knew right well where the story had originated.

OTHER WORDS FROM right

right·a·ble, adjective half-right, adjective, noun un·right·a·ble, adjective un·right·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH right

right righteous rightful right rite wright write

British Dictionary definitions for right away (1 of 2)

right away

adverb

without delay; immediately or promptly

British Dictionary definitions for right away (2 of 2)

Derived forms of right

righter, noun

Word Origin for right

Old English riht, reoht; related to Old High German reht, Gothic raihts, Latin rēctus

Idioms and Phrases with right away (1 of 2)

right away

Also, right off. Without delay, immediately, as in Can you bring our dinners right away? We're in a hurry, or We liked her right off. This idiom uses right as an intensifier and away in the sense of “at once,” the latter usage dating from the 1500s and surviving only in such phrases as this one and fire away. It was first recorded in 1818. Also see right off the bat.

Idioms and Phrases with right away (2 of 2)

right