outright
gb/aʊtɹˈaɪt/ us/aʊtɹˈaɪt/
B2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
completely; with no limitation
Fully and totally, not partly or slowly, often in one action or payment.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] [something] outright
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *"right out"* instead of *"outright"*. Also, they may put *outright* in the wrong place in the sentence. It usually comes after the verb (*"reject outright"*) or after the object (*"reject the offer outright"*), not before the verb in this sense.
Synonyms
completely (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and neutral in tone.)
|
entirely (Stresses that no part is left out, similar level of formality.)
Antonyms
partly (Shows that something is done or true only to some degree, not fully.)
Collocations
reject outright
|ban outright
|buy outright
|own outright
|dismiss outright
|killed outright
Themes
daily life
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
|finance
Examples
- The board rejected the proposal outright after a short discussion.
- We decided to ban smoking outright inside all company buildings.
- She bought the house outright instead of taking out a mortgage.
- Several passengers were killed outright in the crash.
- The complaint was dismissed outright for lack of evidence.
Learner examples
- The manager refused my idea outright.
- They banned the product outright after the test results.
- He paid for the car outright with his savings.
- The judge threw out the case outright.
- Her request for more time was denied outright.
adverb
C1
property
2
openly or directly, without hiding
Openly and clearly, without trying to hide or make something seem nicer.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] outright
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the 'completely' sense and place *outright* before a noun (e.g. *"an outright say"*), which is incorrect. In this meaning, *outright* modifies the verb directly: *"say outright"*, *"refuse outright"*, *"lie outright"*.
Synonyms
openly (Focuses on not hiding something; often slightly less strong than *outright*.)
|
bluntly (Adds a nuance of rudeness or insensitivity compared with *outright*.)
Antonyms
indirectly (Means expressing something in a roundabout or less clear way, the opposite of being outright.)
Collocations
lie outright
|say outright
|state outright
|admit outright
|refuse outright
|criticize outright
Themes
communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He lied outright about his work experience in the interview.
- She told me outright that I would not be getting a promotion this year.
- The minister admitted outright that the policy had failed.
- They refused outright to negotiate with the kidnappers.
- Commentators criticized the decision outright on live television.
Learner examples
- My boss told me outright that I made a big mistake.
- He lied outright to his parents about where he was.
- The company refused outright to change the contract.
- She said outright that she did not trust him.
- The coach blamed the players outright after the game.
unknown
B2
property
3
complete or total; not partial
Total and full, with no limit or half-way condition.
Usage pattern:
outright [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes put *outright* after the noun (*"a ban outright"*) when they want this adjective meaning. For this sense, *outright* normally comes before the noun: *"an outright ban", "an outright victory"*. When it comes after the verb or object, it usually has the adverb meanings.
Synonyms
total (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and slightly less strong in emphasis than *outright*.)
|
absolute (Suggests a stronger, more formal sense of being not limited in any way.)
Antonyms
partial (Describes something that is only to some extent or not fully complete, the opposite of an outright state.)
Collocations
outright ban
|outright winner
|outright victory
|outright majority
|outright defeat
|outright control
Themes
politics
|sports
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government introduced an outright ban on indoor smoking.
- She was the outright winner of the competition, with no need for a second round.
- The party failed to win an outright majority in parliament.
- It was an outright defeat for the defending champions.
- This change represents an outright rejection of the previous policy.
Learner examples
- They called for an outright ban on plastic bags.
- He became the outright winner after the other team was disqualified.
- No party got an outright majority in the election.
- The team suffered an outright defeat in the final.
- The new rule is an outright change from the old one.
adjective
C1
property
4
blatant and clearly unacceptable
Clear and open, usually about something bad or wrong, with no attempt to hide it.
Usage pattern:
outright [negative noun]
Common mistake:
Learners may think *outright* here only means *"very"*, but it also adds the idea that the bad action is completely clear and not hidden. Using *outright* with neutral or positive nouns (*"outright friend"*) sounds odd in this sense.
Synonyms
blatant (Very similar in suggesting something bad is done in a very open way.)
|
flagrant (More formal; often used in legal or moral criticism for very serious or shocking behavior.)
Antonyms
subtle (Suggests something is not obvious or is hard to notice, the opposite of being outright in this negative sense.)
Collocations
outright racism
|outright theft
|outright discrimination
|outright fraud
|outright hostility
|outright rejection
Themes
ethics
|law
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The article accused the company of outright fraud and deception.
- Such comments show outright racism and have no place in public life.
- The policy amounts to outright discrimination against older workers.
- Taking money from the fund for personal use is outright theft.
- The proposal met with outright hostility from local residents.
Learner examples
- His words were an example of outright racism.
- Using the company car for a holiday is outright theft.
- The new law is outright discrimination against poor people.
- Their answer was not just rude; it was outright disrespect.
- The workers faced outright hostility when they arrived.
Grammar
Dictionary form
outright
IPA
GB/aʊtɹˈaɪt/
US/aʊtɹˈaɪt/
Syllables & stress
out - right (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (right)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: outright
Word family
Related words
right
adjective A1
Expressions
buy outright
1/bˈaɪ aʊtɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
pay full price at once
To pay the whole cost of something at one time, without borrowing money or paying in parts.
Examples
- Thanks to an inheritance, she could buy the apartment outright.
- If you buy the phone outright, the monthly plan is cheaper.
- We decided to save for a year and then buy the car outright.
laugh outright
1/lˈæf aʊtɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
laugh openly and fully
To laugh in a loud and clear way, not trying to hide it.
Examples
- The audience laughed outright at his first joke.
- She laughed outright when she heard how much the ticket cost.
- They laughed outright at the suggestion that he might retire.
outright ban
1/ˈaʊtɹaɪt bˈæn/
fixed phrase
total prohibition with no exceptions
A rule that completely stops something, with no special cases or allowed situations.
Examples
- Environmental groups are calling for an outright ban on single-use plastics.
- The city introduced an outright ban on smoking in restaurants.
- Some activists want an outright ban instead of partial restrictions.
outright lie
1/ˈaʊtɹaɪt lˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
clear and complete falsehood
A lie that is totally false and very clear, not just a small change of the truth.
Examples
- Calling the report accurate is an outright lie.
- He accused the politician of telling an outright lie on television.
- Saying you were not there is an outright lie, and we can prove it.
outright majority
1/ˈaʊtɹaɪt məd͡ʒˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
more than half of total votes
More than half of all the votes or seats, so that one side can decide things alone.
Examples
- The party failed to win an outright majority in parliament.
- With an outright majority, the government can pass laws easily.
- They need an outright majority of votes to change the constitution.
outright victory
1/ˈaʊtɹaɪt vˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
clear and total win
A win that is clear and strong, not close and not shared with another side.
Examples
- The team enjoyed an outright victory, winning 4–0.
- Polls suggest an outright victory for the ruling party.
- It was an outright victory, with no need for a second match.
own outright
1/ˈoʊn ˈaʊtɹaɪt/
fixed phrase
have full ownership, no debt
To fully own something, with no loan, mortgage, or shared ownership connected to it.
Examples
- They own their house outright and no longer have a mortgage.
- By the time she retired, she owned her car outright.
- He hopes to own the business outright within five years.
refuse outright
1/ɹɪfjˈuz aʊtɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
refuse completely and directly
To say no in a clear and strong way, without thinking about changes or other options.
Examples
- The company refused outright to pay any compensation.
- She refused outright when they asked her to lie.
- Local residents have refused outright to support the project.
reject outright
1/ɹɪd͡ʒˈɛkt aʊtɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
reject completely and immediately
To say no to something at once and totally, without discussing it or changing it.
Examples
- Shareholders rejected outright the plan to cut jobs.
- The editor rejected his article outright for being too long.
- They rejected outright any idea of delaying the vote.
win outright
1/wˈɪn ˈaʊtɹaɪt/
fixed phrase
win completely in one round
To win in a clear way, without a tie, replay, or need for extra votes or games.
Examples
- The team won outright and took the championship title.
- No candidate won outright in the first round of voting.
- She won outright with more than 60 percent of the vote.