all rightadv.adj.int.n.
/ˌɔːl ˈrʌɪt/, U.S. /ˌɔl ˈraɪt/, /ˌɑl ˈraɪt/ A. adv.
1. Used as an intensifier at the end of a sentence or clause: certainly, indeed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > assuredly, indeed
soothlyc825
forsoothc888
wiselyc888
sooth to sayOE
i-wislichec1000
to (‥) soothOE
iwis?c1160
certesa1250
without missa1275
i-witterlic1275
trulyc1275
aplight1297
certc1300
in (good) fayc1300
verily1303
certain1330
in truthc1330
to tell (also speak, say) the truthc1330
certainlya1375
faithlya1375
in faitha1375
surelya1375
in sooth1390
in trothc1390
in good faitha1393
to witc1400
faithfullyc1405
soothly to sayc1405
all righta1413
sad?a1425
in certc1440
wella1470
truec1480
to say (the) truth1484
of a truth1494
of (a) trotha1500
for a truth?1532
in (of) verity1533
of verityc1550
really1561
for, in, or into very?1565
indeed1583
really and truly1600
indeed and indeed1673
right enough1761
deed1816
just1838
of a verity1850
sho1893
though1905
verdad1928
sholy1929
ja-nee1937
only1975
deffo1996
a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (Pierpont Morgan) (1881) i. l. 99 Criseyde was þis lady name al right.
1662 Cantus iii. sig. B/1 Where ever I goe both too and fro, You have my heart alright.
1864 ‘Citizen-Soldier’ Red-tape & Pigeon-hole Generals xi. 154 I want to go up and show them I am a Union man all right.
1899 Inland Printer May 203/2 ‘Oh, you needn't laugh,’ said Pierce. ‘That happened all right over on the North Side.’
1930 J. B. Priestley Angel Pavement v. 249 Yes, I saw you all right. You looked very annoyed, too.
1943 Illustr. London News 9 Jan. 30/1 Coffee was being burnt in Brazil because there were not enough purchasers for it in Europe. But this was solely because the people of Europe lacked the currency with which to buy it. They wanted the coffee all right.
1993 T. Parker May Lord in His Mercy be Kind to Belfast (1994) i. 7 Oh yes they're my team all right, I've supported them ever since I was a wee boy.
2. Satisfactorily, as desired; fairly well.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > [adverb] > in a satisfactory manner
queema1400
satisfactorily1561
satisfactoriously1661
all right1736
nicely1748
1736 W. Popple Double Deceit v. 83 Well, and how go Matters? All right, snug!
1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry II. v. ii. 79 It is but giving some of the sons negro wenches for their wives, and you have the matter all right.
1844 E. FitzGerald Let. 24 Feb. (1889) I. 124 I got your letter all right.
1883 W. Black Yolande I. xviii. 355 I think it will come out all right.
1917 Everybody's Mag. Nov. 138/2 I hope he'll get along all right with the other animals.
1971 ‘G. Black’ Time for Pirates iv. 78 If this deal went all right..the Hydes could be on their tax-evading boat in a couple of years.
1993 B. Kingsolver Pigs in Heaven ii. xii. 126 It turned out all right, though.
B. adj.
1. Satisfactory, good, fine; well, in good health or order. Now frequently in somewhat weakened sense: adequate, acceptable, ‘OK’. Chiefly in predicative use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > healthy
wholeeOE
isoundOE
i-sundfulc1000
ferec1175
soundc1175
fish-wholea1225
forthlyc1230
steadfasta1300
wella1300
safec1300
tidya1325
halec1330
quartc1330
well-faringc1330
well-tempered1340
well-disposeda1398
wealyc1400
furnished1473
mighty?a1475
quartful?c1475
good1527
wholesomea1533
crank1548
healthful1550
healthy1552
hearty1552
healthsome1563
well-affected?1563
disposed1575
as sound as a bell1576
firm1577
well-conditioned1580
sound1605
unvaletudinary1650
all right1652
valid1652
as sound as a (alsoany) roach1655
fair-like1663
hoddy1664
wanton1674
stout?1697
trig1704
well-hained1722
sprack1747
caller1754
sane1755
finely1763
bobbish1780
cleverly1784
right1787
smart1788
fine1791
eucratic1795
nobbling1825
as right as a trivet1835
first rate1841
in fine, good, high, etc., feather1844
gay1855
sprackish1882
game ball1905
abled1946
well-toned1952
a hundred per cent1960
oke1960
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [adjective]
wellOE
sufferablea1340
worthy1340
sufficient1489
paregala1500
competent1535
something like?1556
right1567
sweet1577
fairish1611
all right1652
fair1656
comfortable1658
decent1711
respectable1750
unrepulsive1787
decentisha1814
fair-to-middling1822
fine1828
christena1838
OK1839
tidy1844
not (or none) so dusty?1856
sweet1898
oke1928
okey-doke1934
okey-dokey1936
tickety-boo1939
cool1951
aight1993
1652 J. Shirley Sisters iv. 34 You need not trouble your selves to tell it Gentlemen, It is all right.
1705 N. Rowe Biter iii. i. 63 Why this is all right again, for we are certainly agreed as to that matter too.
1772 J. Macgowan Infernal Conf. I. viii. 228 Infid...Is not the glass fallen out, think you? Dis. No, sir, the glass is all right.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log xxii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 86/2 I was assured by the..charterer, that it would be all right.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxxvii. 372 I shall be all right! I shall pull through, my dear!
1890 Argus (Melbourne) 2 Aug. 4/3 It's all right, mate; I won't put you away.
1939 R. Chandler Let. 19 Feb. (1966) 195 The Big Sleep is very unequally written. There are scenes that are all right.
1962 L. Deighton Ipcress File iii. 25 ‘You want a meal?’ ‘Yes,’ I said quickly. ‘That's all right, then, sit down.’
1994 Ebony July 30/2 You pay a price for that life, and all of a sudden it isn't the ‘good life’ so much. It becomes an ‘all right’ life.
2010 P. Murray Skippy Dies i. 29 Are you all right, Howard? You sound a bit off.
2. colloquial. Of a person: decent, trustworthy; congenial. Now chiefly attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > [adjective]
soothfastc825
truefastOE
i-treowec1000
unfakenOE
trueOE
sickerc1100
trigc1175
strustya1250
steel to the (very) backa1300
true as steela1300
certainc1325
well-provedc1325
surec1330
traistc1330
tristc1330
trustya1350
faithfula1382
veryc1385
sada1387
discreet1387
trust1389
trothfulc1390
tristya1400
proveda1425
good-heartedc1425
well-trusted?a1439
tristfulc1440
authorizablea1475
faithworthy?1526
tentik1534
fidele1539
truthfulc1550
suresby1553
responsible1558
trestc1560
reliable1569
cocksurea1575
sound1581
trustful1582
truepenny1589
true (also good, sure) as touch1590
probable1596
confident1605
trustable1606
axiopistical1611
loyala1616
reposeful1627
confiding1645
fiducial1647
laudable1664
safe1667
accountable1683
serious1693
sponsible1721
dependable1730
unfailing1798
truthya1802
trustworthy1829
all right1841
stand-up1841
falsehood-free1850
right1856
proven1872
bankable1891
secure1954
the mind > emotion > love > liking or favourable regard > [adjective] > likeable or agreeable > congenial
congeniala1639
consocial1657
cogenial1774
all right1841
1841 Reg. of Flash Men 11 This man was apprehended..by Inspector Ryan…A person known to Ryan came up at the time saying, This man is all right, he has two horses at stables.
1849 C. Dickens David Copperfield I. vi. 108 If Miss Mowcher cuts the Prince's nails, she must be all right.
1893 St. Andrew's Cross Dec. 53/2 Any man who wears that button is an all right man, and I am not afraid to trust him.
1917 A. B. Paterson Saltbush Bill 34 An all-right tart with ginger 'air, and freckles on 'er nose.
1962 M. Procter Body to Spare xxv. 186 He seemed an all-right bloke to me.
1988 M. Gee Grace vii. 115 He's all right, Ian. He's a nice kid.
2005 C. Cleave Incendiary 176 Listen Jasper you're an alright bloke but you've got to pull yourself together.
3. Permissible, allowable; acceptable in a particular context. Frequently with for.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > quality of being approvable or acceptable > [adjective]
acceptablea1382
acceptedc1384
admittable?1406
approvablec1449
eligiblea1500
plausible1541
admissable1587
avowable1602
applausive1605
admissible1611
vendible1642
plaudablea1650
unexceptionable1664
favourable1666
unobnoxious1678
unexceptioned1704
right1748
unregrettable1748
undisgusting1755
unexceptional1775
all right1868
unarraignable1886
1868 Two or Three Weddings iv. 80 She was to tell you how it was all right for me to go.
1933 S. Walker Night Club Era 24 A judge in the Bronx said it was all right for a woman to smoke on the street.
1955 R. Wilson Girls from Planet 5 xxii. 180 That silver outfit was all right for warrioring, but now we've got our men back we'll have to be more feminine.
1985 D. Lucie Progress i. iv, in Fashion, Progress, Hard Feelings, Doing the Business (1991) 125 Mark Yo. All right if I come in? Will Yeah, I want to have a word.
2002 B. Monahan Sceptred Isle Club (2003) iii. 31 ‘I thought you said a business suit would be all right’, John whispered self-consciously to Geoffrey.
4. Of a person: satisfied, content, comfortable, at ease; reasonable, understanding. Usually with about, with.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > contentment or satisfaction > [adjective]
paidc1225
well-queemc1225
well-paidc1230
apaid1297
well-apaidc1300
setea1350
pleaseda1382
contentc1400
agreed1417
well-pleased1423
well begonea1425
well-contenta1438
well-contented1461
satisfied1477
contentful1542
unrepining1559
satisfied1566
sufficed1590
contented1597
undispleased1598
perfecta1616
complacential1658
in humour1673
beneplacit1678
comfortable1770
gratified1818
wishless1820
like a possum up a gum tree1840
chuffc1860
all right1882
gruntled1938
chuffed1957
1882 T. Shairp Bell & Doctor I. 242 These young ladies are queer pieces of mechanism..and strange things disturb them at times. Is she all right with this lover of hers, for example?
1930 A. Ransome Swallows & Amazons iii. 35 ‘Are we all right about jibing?’ asked Mate Susan.
1964 A. Wilson Late Call ii. 105 Are you all right with just the eiderdown over you, or would you like me to help you get right into bed?
1998 Transitions Jan. 22 She has none of the classic ‘nostalgia’ for this place. She feels all right anywhere.
2011 Crawley News (Nexis) 21 Sept. 45 I went to see Paul Jewell a few weeks ago and said I wanted to go out on loan and he was all right about it and said I could go.
C. int.
1.
a. Expressing that all is satisfactory or in good order. In later use chiefly used to offer comfort or support: ‘everything is all right’.
ΚΠ
1811 Lexicon Balatronicum at Right All right, hand down the jemmy; every thing is in proper order, give me the crow.
1858 H. W. Beecher & E. D. Proctor Life Thoughts 280 In order that the conductor may know that every thing is as it should be, the brakeman on the last car calls out through the darkness, ‘All right here!’
1915 Harper's Mag. July 304/1 The woman leaned over with an impulse beyond her control to hold the baby against her bosom. ‘All right, boy. It's all right,’ she whispered into the wadded clothes.
1968 A. Chambers Chicken Run ii. iii. 71 All right, David. It's all right... Nothing broke, I think.
1988 D. Lessing Fifth Child (1989) 34 Dorothy controlled herself and began consoling them. ‘All right, it's all right,’ she said.
2011 M. Andrews Love amid Ashes xxiv. 382 ‘All right. All right, shh,’ he said, soothing her, brushing her hair back from her face.
b. Expressing enthusiasm. In later use spec. (chiefly U.S. colloquial): excellent, terrific, great.
ΚΠ
1869 C. Pemberton Scapegoat I. viii. 116 All right! Hurrah! what a coup!—over £3,000.
1894 Interior 13 Dec. 1648/2 All right! Hurrah for Parkhurst!
1964 R. Dahl Charlie & Chocolate Factory xiv. 64 Delighted to meet you, sir! Overjoyed! Enraptured! Enchanted! All right! Excellent!
1993 USA Weekend 17 Oct. 14/3 ‘Yesssss!’ has replaced ‘All right!’ in the American idiom.
2005 S. R. Murphy Cat cross their Graves 270 ‘All right!’ Cora Lee said, pulling into a twenty-minute green zone just in front of the library. ‘The parking gods are with us.’
2.
a. Expressing assent or concession.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > assent > [interjection]
right1594
do1601
sure1651
all right1814
OK1839
ryebuck1859
yassuh1871
achcha1892
righto1893
same here1896
quaiss kitir1898
check1922
righty-ho1926
oke1929
okey-dokey1932
okey-doke1934
okle-dokle1947
cool1948
seen1973
aight1993
1814 J. Galt tr. C. Goldoni Love, Honor, & Interest ii. i, in New Brit. Theatre III. 272 Mad. What say you, Monsieur, to't? La Gloire. All right, all right.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxviii. 422 ‘Stand firm, Sam,’ said Mr. Pickwick, looking down. ‘All right, Sir,’ replied Mr. Weller.
1887 Courier (Middlesex) 7 July 5/3 Witness told Treadwell what Wright had told him, and he replied, ‘All right’.
1935 C. Brooks Jrnl. 12 Feb. (1998) 86 C.B.: (after a few minutes thought) Alright, I'll fight.
1955 E. Coxhead Figure in Mist iv. 134 ‘You're the most frightful woman I've ever met.’ ‘All right, it's penetrated.’
1978 J. Bacque Big Lonely (new ed.) viii. 146 ‘Well, how would you like some pancakes?’ ‘All right. Where?’
2005 Z. Smith On Beauty 318 All right, all right—keep your hair on.
b. Appended as an interrogative to a clause, phrase, etc., in expectation of agreement or approval.
ΚΠ
1929 E. Wilson Diary in L. Edel Twenties (1975) 514 O.K., all right?
1961 I. Khan Jumbie Bird iii. 35 Not now, Meena... When ah come back..all right?
1984 D. Duane My Enemy, my Ally xii. 178 Lia, get the Captain ten mils of Aerosal, all right?
2005 S. Booth One Last Breath xxi. 292 I'm off the stuff, all right? I told you, I went through the whole detox business.
3. Used as a greeting: ‘hello’, ‘how are you?’
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > courteous expressions [interjection] > expressions of greeting
hailc1200
all haila1393
yoa1475
salutation1535
hail1604
chin chin1625
wassaila1643
hallo1841
hello1853
good day1857
hi1862
all right1868
g'day1894
'lo1913
ciao1929
hiya1940
hidey1941
well-done1971
wagwan1983
1868 D. M. Mulock in Good Words June 335/2 William's first greeting at his own door was always his wife's face... ‘All right, my darling?’
1943 R. Sullivan Dark Continent v. 41 ‘Awright, pal!’ the bartender called to him. ‘What'll it be?’
1989 Financial Times 20 May (Weekend Suppl.) p. xxiii/1 She looked this imposing gentleman straight in the eye..and said: ‘Alright, mate?’
2004 C. Bateman Driving Big Davie xii. 117 He came up, smiling. ‘All right? I was looking for you.’
4. Used in introducing an utterance, typically to indicate a change of topic or as a means of drawing attention to what the speaker is about to say.
ΚΠ
1917 Southern Reporter 75 222/2 He was standing right opposite me, and he said ‘All right, boys; get ready to go.’
1960 D. F. Parkhirst Clown Prince of Wanderlust i. 25 All right, folks! We now bring you that handsome, young beggar, Juan of Evergreen! Let's have a big hand!
1981 E. Alford in M. Atwood & R. Weaver Oxf. Bk. Canad. Short Stories (1986) 394 ‘All right, ladies, who's it to be,’ he cajoled.
2010 Record (Bergen County, New Jersey) (Nexis) 11 Jan. f1 All right, listen up, you guys. We're playing Saddle Brook today.
D. n.
colloquial. a bit (also piece) of all right: a person, thing, or situation regarded as highly satisfactory, esp. a sexually attractive woman.rare in North American use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [noun] > highly
a bit (also piece) of all right1895
hotsy-totsiness1935
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual desire > [noun] > that which excites > sexually exciting person
a bit (also piece) of all right1895
hot stuff1908
sex object1911
hot pants1938
sexpot1953
sex bomb1954
sexboat1955
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [noun] > prettiness > specifically of woman > pretty girl or woman
primerolea1350
jolyvet1413
prim1509
nicebeceturc1520
bit of stuff?1553
nicebice1595
dabchick1612
rosebud1668
doll1778
living doll1785
a bit (also bundle) of muslin1823
a bit (also piece) of all right1895
bit of fluff1903
dolly1906
baby doll1908
cutiea1911
cutie-pie1920
kewpie1946
tchotchke1968
tchotchkeleh1985
1895 W. P. Ridge in Idler Aug. 33/2 ‘This,’ said the telegraph boy, as he took the coin and placed it with much good humour in his eye, ‘is a bit of all right.’
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 109 She was a nice little bit o' goods. There's her portrait... A nice little bit of orlright, ain't she?
1898 Chron. (N.Y.) 14 Apr. 177/1 In the vernacular of dear old London it's ‘a little bit of alright’.
1910 H. G. Wells Hist. Mr. Polly ix. 298 This beef is a Bit of All Right, Ma'm.
1922 P. Bottome Kingfisher xxiii. 165 This does seem a piece of all right, doesn't it?
1957 D. Niland Call me when Cross turns Over ii. 69 The sheila had him in her sights because she thought he was a bit of all right.
1964 G. Friel Boy who wanted Peace i. 6 It would be a bit of all right finding even wan o' they stacks.
2002 W. Kennedy Roscoe 108 That bird of yours really is a bit of all right.
Phrases
P1. to come all right: to regain or be restored into a satisfactory or proper state. Usually in future tense. Cf. to come right at right adj. and int. Phrases 8.
ΚΠ
1831 S. E. Ferrier Destiny II. xxix. 386 If he had but his will, I really think he would come all right.
1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux II. xxviii. 228 You'll come all right after a few weeks. You've been knocked out of time;—that's the truth of it.
1928 Boys' Life May 15/1 I've had this kind of thing before in the hot weather. It kind of knocks me out before I get over it, but it'll come all right.
1962 J. Baldwin Another Country i. 59 I tell you, Viv, I keep hoping—it'll all come all right somehow.
2010 P. Taylor Irish Country Courtship xvi. 138 I wish everything would come all right again.
P2. to see someone all right: to look after a person, to protect the interests of a person; = to see someone right at right adj. and int. Phrases 7c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > care for, protect, or have charge of [verb (transitive)] > take care of or look after > specifically a person > attend to or act for the benefit of
seea1350
to see to ——a1382
sorrow1481
to see for ——c1500
to fend for1629
to see someone right1829
to see someone all right1840
1840 Sydney Gaz. 16 June The crimp tells him to come and stop with him, and he'll see him all right.
1880 Chamber's Jrnl. 15 May 314/1 Ajint nor bailiff won't grind us down no longer—do you hear? There's bhoys comin' from Tipperary that'll see me all right.
1927 Manch. Guardian Weekly 10 May 16/4 The cashier was dismissed, and the plaintiff took over his duties, Sir Henry telling him he would ‘see him all right.’
1959 Times 19 Mar. 5/5 He said he would see me all right if I said I saw the two police strike the boy.
1974 S. B. Hough Fear Fortune, Father i. 15 I could remember Lawson saying to me, ‘I'll see you all right.’
2002 R. Rankin Hollow Chocolate Bunnies Apocalypse ii. 18 It's been a difficult day for the both of us. But you've got me here. I'll see you all right.
P3. to be all right with (also by) a person: to be acceptable to a person; to be fine by a person.
ΚΠ
1846 C. Rowcroft Fanny, Little Milliner iii. 24 So long as we keep ‘Quiet, and remain content with our lot’, as you call it, it is all right with them.
1896 20th Ann. Rep. Railroad & Warehouse Commissioners Missouri 1895 469 We have had no complaints from the people living along the line of that road, therefore we have considered that it was allright with our patrons there.
1928 P. G. Wodehouse Money for Nothing v. 103 If you think it's kayo, then it's all right by me.
1958 Listener 20 Nov. 835/1 If ever he wants to use what I'm going to say, it's perfectly all right with me.
1985 M. Sachs Fat Girl i. 2 She said if it was all right with you, she could squeeze me in.
1998 M. Bail Eucalyptus (1999) xxi. 157 It was she who convinced him to avoid black-and-white photography, and turn to colour. That was all right by him.
P4. to do all right (for oneself): to do well, to prosper, esp. with regard to financial success.
ΚΠ
1870 Fortn. Rev. Nov. 610 Oh, she'll do all right. She's getting on famously.
1914 A. Castle & E. Castle Our Sentimental Garden 108 The pretty, hard-working..wife declares without a thought of unkindness, that if she could only get him ‘out of the way for good’ she could ‘do all right’ for herself and her three small children.
1958 J. Kesson White Bird Passes ii. 21 Mysie Walsh must be doing all right to give you two bob all in a once.
1986 M. Hughes Blaine's Way (1989) viii. 140 Her father was the bank manager and Grandpa said he's done all right for himself.
2006 Guardian (Nexis) 23 Jan. (Financial section) 26 The boys in the boardroom were doing all right for themselves: they earned slightly less than 10 times as much as the average worker on the shop floor.
P5. (to be) all right for ——: used to express envy or resentment at what is perceived to be another person's good fortune or more agreeable situation. Frequently in (to be) all right for some.
ΚΠ
1900 K. Masterson Dobleys 183 ‘It's all right for you to take it so coolly,’ said Mrs. Dobley. ‘You only have to come down twice a week.’
1954 H. Popham Sea Flight ii. xiii. 92 He was looking very spruce in long whites, all set for a night ashore. Jock and I looked at each other. ‘It's all right for some, isn't it’, he said.
1988 Hobart (Tasmania) Mercury (Nexis) 16 Nov. It's all right for you, you are always on TV.
2002 E. Wooff Mud Puppy vi. 49 She must have got straight out of bed, had her breakfast in front of the telly and stayed there. All right for some.
P6. all right on the goose: see goose n. 1d.
P7. I'm all right, Jack: see Jack n.2 Phrases 1c.
P8. all right on the night: see night n. 7b.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adv.adj.int.n.a1413