straight
English meaning: Straight
Definition
Without a bend or curve, or going directly without stopping.
Example
“Go straight on until the lights.”
Another example: “Just tell me the truth and give me a straight answer.”
Usage — When, Where & How
An everyday adjective and adverb. As an adjective it describes something without bends ("a straight line"); as an adverb it means directly or without delay ("go straight home"). It also carries informal senses of honest ("give me a straight answer") and, in casual speech, heterosexual.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Middle English 'streght', past participle of 'strecchen' (to stretch).
Synonyms
- direct
- unbending
- level
- upright
Antonyms / Opposites
- crooked
- curved
- bent
- winding
Related Words
- straighten
- direct
- line
- level
- upright
Common Collocations
- straight line
- straight ahead
- sit up straight
- get straight to
- straight away
- a straight answer
Word Forms
straight (adj/adv); straighter; straightest; straighten (v); straightness (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B