right

adjective

• 1morally good, justified, or acceptable:I hope we’re doing the right thing [with infinitive]:you were quite right to criticize him

• 2true or correct as a fact:I’m not sure I know the right answer her theories were proved right
• [predic.] correct in one’s opinion or judgement:she was right about Tom having no money
• according to what is correct for a particular situation:is this the right way to the cottage? you’re not holding it the right way up
• best or most appropriate for a particular situation:he was clearly the right man for the job I was waiting for the right moment to ask him
• socially fashionable or important:he was seen at all the right places

• 3 [predic.] in a satisfactory, sound, or normal state or condition:that sausage doesn’t smell right if only I could have helped put matters right

• 4on, towards, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing which is to the east when the person or thing is facing north:my right elbow the right edge of the field

• 5 [attributive] British informal complete; absolute (used for emphasis):I felt a right idiot

• 6relating to a person or group favouring conservative views:are you politically right, left, or centre?

adverb

• 1to the furthest or most complete extent or degree (used for emphasis):the car spun right off the track I’m right out of ideas
• exactly; directly (used to emphasize the precise location or time of something):Harriet was standing right behind her
• informal without delaying or hesitating; immediately:I’ll be right back
• [as submodifier] dialect or archaic very:it’s right spooky in there!

• 2correctly:he had guessed right
• in the required or necessary way; satisfactorily:nothing’s going right for me this season

• 3on or to the right side:turn right off the B1269

noun

• 1 [mass noun] that which is morally correct, just, or honourable:she doesn’t understand the difference between right and wrong [count noun]:the rights and wrongs of the matter

• 2a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something: [with infinitive]:she had every right to be angry you’re quite within your rights to ask for your money back [mass noun]:there is no right of appeal against the decision
• (rights) the authority to perform, publish, film, or televise a particular work, event, etc.:they sold the paperback rights

• 3 (the right) the right-hand part, side, or direction:take the first turning on the right (one's right)she seated me on her right
• (in football or a similar sport) the right-hand half of the field when facing the opponent’s goal: they made a neat series of passes over on the right
• the right wing of an army: the allies succeeded in overrunning the French right
• a right turn:he made a right in Dorchester Avenue
• a road or entrance on the right:take the first right over the stream
• a person’s right fist, especially a boxer’s: he ducked down low then brought up his right
• a blow given with the right fist:the young copper swung a terrific right

• 4 (often the Right) [treated as singular or plural] a group or party favouring conservative views and supporting capitalist principles:the Right got in at the election his proposal was viewed with alarm by the right of the party

verb

• 1 [with object] restore to a normal or upright position:we righted the capsized dinghy

• 2restore to a normal or correct state:righting the economy demanded major cuts in defence spending
• redress or rectify (a wrong or mistaken action):she was determined to right the wrongs done to her father
• archaic make reparation to (someone) for a wrong done to them:we’ll see you righted

exclamation

• used to indicate agreement or to acknowledge a statement or order:‘Barry’s here.’ ‘Oh, right’ right you are, sir
• used as an interrogative at the end of a statement as a way of inviting confirmation or approval:you went to see Angie on Monday, right?
• used as a filler in speech or to introduce an utterance or exhortation:right, let’s have a drink and I didn’t think any more of it, right, but Mum said I should take him to a doctor