okay
English meaning: Okay
Definition
Endorsement; approval.
Example
“We can start as soon as we get the OK.”
Another example: “Don't worry about the broken cup; it's okay, accidents happen.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Very informal in its main use as an interjection or adjective meaning 'all right, acceptable' ('okay?', 'that's okay'). As a noun it means approval ('got the okay'), and as a verb 'to okay' means to approve. Spelled 'okay' or 'OK'. Ubiquitous in speech worldwide.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
An Americanism first recorded in 1839 as a humorous abbreviation of 'oll korrect' (all correct), popularised during the 1840 US election campaign.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- reject
- disapprove
- unacceptable
- forbid
Related Words
Common Collocations
- give the okay
- that's okay
- okay then
- are you okay
- get the okay
- okay with me
Word Forms
okay/OK (adj/adv/n/v); okayed; okaying
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
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