Word forms: comparative straighter, superlative straightest, plural straights
1. adjective
A straight line or edge continues in the same direction and does not bend or curve.
Keep the boat in a straight line.
Using the straight edge as a guide, trim the cloth to size.
His teeth were perfectly straight.
There wasn't a single straight wall in the building.
Synonyms: direct, unswerving, undeviating More Synonyms of straight
Straight is also an adverb.
Stand straight and stretch the left hand to the right foot.
Turn right and just basically walk straight, right over the river.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Straight hair has no curls or waves in it.
Grace had long straight dark hair which she wore in a bun.
3. adverb
You use straight to indicate that the way from one place to another is very direct, with no changesof direction.
The ball fell straight to the feet of the striker.
He finished his conversation and stood up, looking straight at me.
Straight ahead were the low cabins of the motel.
Synonyms: directly, precisely, exactly, as the crow flies More Synonyms of straight
4. adverb
If you go straight to a place, you go there immediately.
As always, we went straight to the experts for advice.
We'll go to a meeting in Birmingham and come straight back.
Synonyms: immediately, directly, promptly, instantly More Synonyms of straight
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you give someone a straight answer, you answer them clearly and honestly.
What a shifty arguer he is, refusing ever to give a straight answer.
Straight is also an adverb.
I lost my temper and told him straight that I hadn't been looking for any job.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Straight means following one after the other, with no gaps or intervals.
They'd won 12 straight games before they lost.
Synonyms: successive, consecutive, continuous, through More Synonyms of straight
Straight is also an adverb.
He called from Weddington, having been there for 31 hours straight.
7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A straight choice or a straight fight involves only two people or things.
It's a straight choice between low-paid jobs and no jobs.
Each has several times beaten the other in a straight fight.
Synonyms: straightforward, clear, simple, routine More Synonyms of straight
8. adjective
If you describe someone as straight, you mean that they are normal and conventional, for example in their opinions andin the way they live.
Dorothy was described as a very straight woman, a very strict Christian who was marriedto her job.
Synonyms: conventional, conservative, orthodox, traditional More Synonyms of straight
9. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you describe someone as straight, you mean that they are heterosexual.
[informal]
His sexual orientation was a lot more gay than straight.
Marty of New York describes herself as a straight female.
Synonyms: heterosexual More Synonyms of straight
Straight is also a noun.
...a standard of sexual conduct that applies equally to gays and straights.
10. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A straight drink, especially an alcoholic drink, has not had another liquid such as water added to it.
...a large straight whiskey without ice.
Children should not drink fruit juices straight.
11. countable noun
On a racetrack, a straight is a section of the track that is straight, rather than curved.
Our cars were clearly too slow along the straights.
I went to overtake him on the back straight on the last lap.
12. See also home stretch
13.
See get sth straight
14.
See go straight
15.
See on the straight and narrow
16. a straight face
17. to set the record straight
More Synonyms of straight
straight in British English
(streɪt)
adjective
1.
not curved or crooked; continuing in the same direction without deviating
2.
straightforward, outright, or candid
a straight rejection
3.
even, level, or upright in shape or position
4.
in keeping with the facts; accurate
5.
honest, respectable, or reliable
6.
accurate or logical
straight reasoning
7.
continuous; uninterrupted
8.
(esp of an alcoholic drink) undiluted; neat
9.
not crisp, kinked, or curly
straight hair
10.
correctly arranged; orderly
11.
(of a play, acting style, etc) straightforward or serious
12. journalism
(of a story, article, etc) giving the facts without unnecessary embellishment
13. US
sold at a fixed unit price irrespective of the quantity sold
14. boxing
(of a blow) delivered with an unbent arm
a straight left
15.
(of the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine) in line, rather than in a V-formation or in someother arrangement
a straight eight
16. a slang word for heterosexual
17. informal
no longer owing or being owed something
if you buy the next round, we'll be straight
18. slang
conventional in views, customs, appearance, etc
19. slang
not using narcotics; not addicted
adverb
20.
in a straight line or direct course
21.
immediately; at once
he came straight back
22.
in an even, level, or upright position
23.
without cheating, lying, or unreliability
tell it to me straight
24.
continuously; uninterruptedly
25. US
without discount regardless of the quantity sold
26. (often foll by out)
frankly; candidly
he told me straight out
27. go straight
noun
28.
the state of being straight
29.
a straight line, form, part, or position
30. British
a straight part of a racetrack
US name: straightaway
31. poker
a.
five cards that are in sequence irrespective of suit
b.
a hand containing such a sequence
c.
(as modifier)
a straight flush
32. slang
a conventional person
33. slang
a heterosexual person
34. slang
a cigarette containing only tobacco, without marijuana, etc
Derived forms
straightly (ˈstraightly)
adverb
straightness (ˈstraightness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from the past participle of Old English streccan to stretch
straight in American English
(streɪt)
adjective
1.
having the same direction throughout its length; having no curvature or angularity
a straight line
2.
not crooked, bent, bowed, wavy, curly, etc.
straight hair
3.
upright; erect
straight posture
4.
level; even
a straight hemline
5.
with all cylinders in a direct line; in-line: said of some internal-combustion engines
6.
direct; undeviating, uninterrupted, etc.
to hold a straight course
7. US
following strictly the principles, slate of candidates, etc. of a political party
see also straight ticket
8.
following a direct or systematic course of reasoning, etc.; methodical; accurate
9.
in order; properly arranged, etc.
to put a room straight
10.
a.
honest; sincere; upright
b.
reliable; factual
straight information
11.
outspoken; frank
12. US
a.
without anything added or mixed in; undiluted
a straight shot of whiskey
b.
not blended with neutral grain spirits
13.
not qualified, modified, slanted, etc.
a straight denial
14. US
at a fixed price per unit regardless of the quantity bought or sold
apples at ten cents straight
15. US, Slang
a.
normal or conventional, as in one's lifestyle; also, square (sense 33)
b.
heterosexual
c.
not using drugs, alcohol, etc.
adverb
16.
in a straight line or direction; unswervingly
17.
upright; erectly
18.
a.
without detour, delay, etc.
go straight to bed
b.
without equivocation, circumlocution, etc.; directly
tell it straight
c.
without alteration, addition, etc.
play the role straight
19.
in an honest, law-abiding manner
go straight
noun
20.
the quality or condition of being straight
21.
something straight
; specif.,
a.
the straight part of a racetrack between the last turn and the winning post
b. US, Poker
a hand consisting of any five cards in sequence: it ranks just above three of a kindand below a flush
22. Slang
a.
a straight, or conventional, person
b.
a heterosexual
Idioms:
straight off
straight up
the straight and narrow (path)
Derived forms
straightly (ˈstraightly)
adverb
straightness (ˈstraightness)
noun
Word origin
ME streght, pp. of strecchen, to stretch
More idioms containing
straight
keep a straight face
play a straight bat
a straight arrow
set the record straight
come straight from the shoulder
keep someone on the straight and narrow
straight as a die
Examples of 'straight' in a sentence
straight
These go straight to the right brain and are hard to argue with.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
We have been attempting to add curl to straight hair for thousands of years.
The Sun (2006)
Instead of twisting and turning he flew straight along.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
No wonder they were trying to elude the tackler rather than crash straight into him.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet somehow it also led straight downhill.
Smout, T.C. & Wood, Sydney Scottish Voices 1745-1960 (1990)
This is not a pool that anyone is going to charge straight through without being checked.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What do politicians think will happen when they refuse to give a straight answer?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
My face was too well known and it was difficult for me to get a straight job.
The Sun (2013)
This straighter track and longer trip will suit.
The Sun (2011)
We must have a drink straight away.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
The light fixtures were the old style that directed the light straight up.
Christianity Today (2000)
You might find you can go straight into a job and work from the ground up.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We watched the video five times straight.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We are happy to put the record straight and apologise for the error.
The Sun (2013)
Your body should form a straight line from your fingertips to your right foot.
The Sun (2011)
Yet this notion of a straight choice having to be made is confusing.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They kept looking straight ahead and did not lock eyes with him.
The Sun (2011)
Relax your shoulders so they are away from your ears and keep your spine straight.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We are happy to set the record straight.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Use scissors to round off the straight edge at each end.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The second direction Sunday night can go is straight comfort food.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They were not introduced to Britain for the taste of their meat but because they f ly straight, slow and low.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Word lists with
straight
terms used in poker
In other languages
straight
British English: straight /streɪt/ ADJECTIVE
A straight line or edge continues in the same direction and does not bend or curve.
Keep the boat in a straight line.
American English: straight
Arabic: مُسْتَقيم
Brazilian Portuguese: reto
Chinese: 直的
Croatian: ravan
Czech: rovný
Danish: lige
Dutch: recht
European Spanish: recto
Finnish: suora
French: droit pas courbé
German: gerade
Greek: ευθύς
Italian: dritto
Japanese: まっすぐな
Korean: 똑바른
Norwegian: rett
Polish: prosty równy
European Portuguese: reto
Romanian: drept
Russian: прямой
Latin American Spanish: recto
Swedish: rak
Thai: ตรง
Turkish: doğru çizgi
Ukrainian: прямий
Vietnamese: thẳng
All related terms of 'straight'
go straight
If a criminal is going straight , they are no longer involved in crime .
straight up
honestly ; truly ; exactly
back straight
a straight part of a circuit , esp of an athletics track or a racecourse , furthest from the finishing point
home straight
the section of a racecourse forming the approach to the finish
set straight
to give the correct facts to; inform properly
straight-arm
(of a tackle ) performed with the arm fully extended
straight away
If you do something straight away , you do it immediately and without delay .
straight bat
a bat held vertically
straight-edge
not indulging in any kind of drug-taking or sexual activities
straight face
a serious facial expression , esp one that conceals the impulse to laugh
straight fire
very good ; excellent
straight-line
(of a machine ) having components that are arranged in a row or that move in a straight line when in operation
straight man
a subsidiary actor who acts as stooge to a comedian
straight men
a subsidiary actor who acts as stooge to a comedian
straight off
without deliberation or hesitation
straight-out
complete; thoroughgoing
straight pin
→ pin (sense 2 )
straight time
the number of working hours fixed as a standard for a given work period
inside straight
a set of four cards, as the five , seven , eight , and nine , requiring one card of a denomination next above or below the second or third ranking cards of the set to make a straight
ramrod straight
having a very straight figure
straight-acting
(of a gay person) having the mannerisms of a heterosexual person: used esp by gay people of other gay people
straight-ahead
not complex ; straightforward ; uncomplicated
straight angle
an angle of 180°
straight arrow
A straight arrow is someone who is very traditional , honest, and moral .
straight chain
an open chain of atoms in a molecule with no attached side chains
straight chair
a straight-backed side chair
straight-faced
A straight-faced person appears not to be amused in a funny situation .
straight fight
a contest between two candidates only
straight flush
(in poker ) five consecutive cards of the same suit
straight joint
a vertical joint in brickwork that is directly above a vertical joint in the course below
straight-laced
→ strait-laced (sense 2 )
straight razor
a razor with a long, unguarded blade that can be folded into the handle
straight ticket
a ballot for all the candidates of one and only one political party
straight shooter
a person who speaks plainly and honestly
a straight arrow
someone who is very conventional , honest , and moral
get sth straight
If you get something straight , you make sure that you understand it properly or that someone else does.
straight arm lift
a wrestling attack, in which a wrestler twists the opponent's arm against the joint and lifts him or her by it, often using the shoulder as a fulcrum
straight and narrow
the proper , honest , and moral path of behaviour
straight as a die
completely honest
straight-cut tobacco
tobacco that is cut in such a way that it will lie flat .
keep a straight face
to manage to look serious , even though you really want to laugh or smile
play a straight bat
to try to avoid answering difficult questions
as straight as a die
perfectly honest
put the record straight
to correct an error or misunderstanding
set the record straight
to correct a mistake or misunderstanding
straight-line depreciation
Straight-line depreciation is a method of depreciation in which an equal amount of depreciation is taken each year .
to keep a straight face
If you manage to keep a straight face , you manage to look serious , although you want to laugh .
strait-lacedly
in a strait-laced manner
draw to an inside straight
to build up hopes for something that has little or no chance of happening
on the straight and narrow
If something keeps people on the straight and narrow , it helps to keep them living an honest or healthy life.