okay
gb/ˌoʊkˈeɪ/ us/ˌoʊkˈeɪ/
A1
English
~ 1000
Senses
0 senses
interjection
A1
action
1
Used to agree or accept
You say this when you agree or understand.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'okay' as an adjective with 'okay' as an interjection; here it does not describe a quality but signals agreement.
Synonyms
alright (Slightly more informal in some regions but generally interchangeable.)
Antonyms
no (Directly expresses refusal or disagreement.)
Collocations
okay then
|okay, sure
|okay, fine
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- "Okay, let's start the meeting now."
- "Okay, I understand what you mean."
- "If you don't want to go, okay, we can stay home."
Learner examples
- Okay, I will help you.
- Okay, I understand.
- Okay, let's eat now.
adjective
A1
property
2
Satisfactory but not excellent
Good enough, but not very good.
Usage pattern:
[something] is okay
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'okay' instead of more precise adjectives like 'good', 'bad', 'great'.
Synonyms
fine (Similar meaning; often slightly more positive in tone.)
Antonyms
unacceptable (Means not good enough or not allowed.)
Collocations
feel okay
|look okay
|it's okay
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The food was okay, but not great.
- Is it okay if I open the window?
- Your exam result is okay; you passed.
Learner examples
- The movie was okay.
- It is okay to sit here.
- I feel okay today.
adverb
A2
property
3
In a satisfactory way
Well enough; without problems.
Usage pattern:
[someone] did [something] okay
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'okay' as an adverb with 'ok' as an abbreviation for 'okay'. Both are acceptable but style may differ.
Synonyms
well enough (Implies adequacy rather than excellence.)
Antonyms
badly (Implies poor quality or performance.)
Collocations
doing okay
|turned out okay
|went okay
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She did okay on the test.
- Everything went okay at the party.
- I think I'm doing okay at work.
Learner examples
- He sings okay.
- The day went okay.
- I am doing okay.
Verb
informal
B1
action
4
Approve or give permission for something
To say yes to a plan or request.
Usage pattern:
to okay [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may mistakenly use 'okay' as a verb in very formal writing where 'approve' would be more appropriate.
Synonyms
approve (More formal and used in official contexts.)
Antonyms
reject (Means to refuse to accept or approve something.)
Collocations
okay a request
|okay the plan
|okay the changes
Themes
business
|daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The manager okayed the budget for next year.
- They okayed my vacation request.
- The teacher okayed the project idea.
Learner examples
- My boss okayed my leave.
- She okayed the trip.
- He okayed our plan.
Grammar
Dictionary form
okay
IPA
GB/ˌoʊkˈeɪ/
US/ˌoʊkˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
okay (1 syllable)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: okay
Verb
- Base: okay
- 3rd Person Singular: o.k.'s, ok's, okays
- Present Participle: o.k.'ing, ok'ing, okaying
- Past: o.k.'d, ok'd, okayed
- Past Participle: o.k.'d, ok'd
Word family
Forms
o.k.'s
verb
ok's
verb
okays
verb
o.k.'ing
verb
ok'ing
verb
okaying
verb
o.k.'d
verb
ok'd
verb
Core family
ok
interjection A1
Highlights
- Irregular past participle: o.k.'d, ok'd Verb
Expressions
are you okay?
1/ˈɑɹ jˈu ˌoʊkˈeɪ ‖/
fixed phrase
Ask if someone is well or safe
Used to ask if someone feels well or is safe after something happened.
Examples
- Are you okay? You look pale.
- Are you okay after the fall?
it's going to be okay
1/ˈɪts ɡˈoʊɪŋ tə bˈi ˌoʊkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Reassurance about the future
Used to tell someone that things will be fine in the future.
Examples
- Don't cry, it's going to be okay.
- Everything is going to be okay after the exam.
it's okay
1/ˈɪts ˌoʊkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Not a problem; acceptable
Used to say there is no problem or someone should not worry.
Examples
- It's okay, you don't need to apologize.
- Don't worry, it's okay if you're late.
okay then
1/ˌoʊkˈeɪ ðˈɛn/
fixed phrase
informal
Signal decision or end of discussion
Used when ending a discussion or agreeing to start something.
Examples
- Okay then, let's get started.
- Okay then, see you tomorrow.
that's okay
1/ðˈæts ˌoʊkˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Polite refusal or reassurance
Used to politely say no or show something is not a problem.
Examples
- That's okay, I don't need any help.
- That's okay, mistakes happen.