Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense okays, present participle okaying, past tense, past participle okayed
1. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that something is okay, you find it satisfactory or acceptable.
[informal]
...a shooting range where it's OK to use weapons.
Is it okay if I come by myself?
I guess for a fashionable restaurant like this the prices are OK.
Okay is also an adverb.
We seemed to manage okay for the first year or so after David was born.
2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that someone is okay, you mean that they are safe and well.
[informal]
Check that the baby's okay.
'Don't worry about me,' I said. 'I'll be okay.'
3. convention
You can say 'Okay' to show that you agree to something.
[informal, formulae]
'Just tell him Sir Kenneth would like to talk to him.'—'OK.'
'Shall I give you a ring on Friday?'—'Yeah okay.'
4. convention
You can say 'Okay?' to check whether the person you are talking to understands what you have said and accepts it.
[informal]
Add them together, divide by five, and you've got the average. Okay?
We'll get together next week, OK?
5. convention
You can use okay to indicate that you want to start talking about something else or doing something else.
[informal]
OK. Now, let's talk some business.
Tim jumped to his feet. 'Okay, let's go.'
6. convention
You can use okay to stop someone arguing with you by showing that you accept the point they are making, though you do not necessarily regard it as very important.
[informal]
Okay, there is a slight difference.
Okay, so I'm forty-two.
7. verb
If someone in authority okays something, they officially agree to it or allow it to happen.
[informal]
His doctor wouldn't OK the trip. [VERB noun]
We are all wondering why the government is suddenly okaying a brand new school onthe island. [VERB noun]
Okay is also a noun.
He gave the okay to issue a new press release.
We are ready to start flying to Britain as soon as we get the okay.