right
gb/ɹˈaɪt/ us/ɹˈaɪt/
A1
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
correct or true
Correct; not wrong.
Usage pattern:
[something] is right
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'right' meaning 'correct' with 'right' meaning 'direction'. Context clarifies the meaning.
Synonyms
correct (Interchangeable in most contexts, slightly more formal in tone.)
Antonyms
wrong (Direct opposite meaning; incorrect or mistaken.)
Collocations
right answer
|right decision
|right time
|right choice
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You were right about the weather changing.
- That’s the right answer to the question.
- I think she made the right choice.
Learner examples
- You are right.
- This is the right bus.
- He gave the right answer.
Noun
B1
entity
2
moral or legal entitlement
Something you are allowed to have or do by law or morals.
Usage pattern:
the right to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'rights' (plural) with 'right' meaning 'correct' or 'direction'. Always check context.
Synonyms
entitlement (More formal; often used in legal contexts.)
Antonyms
restriction (A limitation that prevents an action or claim.)
Collocations
human rights
|voting rights
|legal rights
|civil rights
Themes
law
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Freedom of speech is a basic human right.
- You have the right to remain silent.
- Everyone has the right to education.
Learner examples
- You have the right to vote.
- It is my right to speak.
- We have the right to be safe.
adjective
A1
relation
3
opposite of left side
On the side that is not the left.
Usage pattern:
on the right [side]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'right' for direction with 'right' meaning 'correct'. Context is key.
Synonyms
right-hand (Specifically refers to the side with the dominant hand for most people.)
Antonyms
left (The opposite direction or side.)
Collocations
turn right
|right side
|right hand
Themes
directions
|navigation
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Turn right at the next intersection.
- She sat on my right during the show.
- The kitchen is on the right side of the hall.
Learner examples
- Turn right at the corner.
- The bank is on the right.
- My bag is on the right side.
adverb
A2
relation
4
exactly or immediately
Exactly or directly in a place or time.
Usage pattern:
right [place/time]
Synonyms
immediately (Focuses on time rather than exactness of location.)
Antonyms
later (Opposite in terms of time; delayed.)
Collocations
right now
|right here
|right away
Themes
daily life
|time
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Come and sit right here next to me.
- I need it done right now.
- She arrived right after lunch.
Learner examples
- I am right here.
- Do it right now.
- He came right after me.
Verb
B2
action
5
restore to proper position/state
To put something back in the correct position or state.
Usage pattern:
to right [something]
Synonyms
restore (General term for returning something to its original state; less specific about uprightness.)
Antonyms
upset (To knock over or disturb from a proper position.)
Collocations
right a wrong
|right the ship
Themes
repair
|navigation
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The crew worked quickly to right the capsized boat.
- We must work to right this injustice.
- He tried to right himself after stumbling.
Learner examples
- They righted the chair.
- We need to right this problem.
- He righted himself after he fell.
Grammar
Dictionary form
right
IPA
GB/ɹˈaɪt/
US/ɹˈaɪt/
Syllables & stress
right (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (right)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: right
- Comparative: righter
- Superlative: rightest
Noun
- Base: right
- Plural: right, rights
Verb
- Base: right
- 3rd Person Singular: rights
- Present Participle: righting
- Past: righted
Word family
Forms
rights
noun
righting
verb
righted
verb
righter
adjective
rightest
adjective
Core family
rightly
adverb B1
Related words
rightful
adjective
rightfully
adverb
Advanced or less common
Expressions
by rights
1/bˈaɪ ɹˈaɪts/
idiom
according to fairness/propriety
According to what is fair or correct.
Examples
- By rights, you should have won that game.
- By rights, this belongs to her.
in your own right
1/ˈɪn jˈʊɹ ˈoʊn ɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
status from personal merit alone
Having importance or success because of your own ability, not because of someone else.
Examples
- She’s an accomplished artist in her own right.
- He became famous in his own right, apart from his father’s fame.
make it right
1/mˈeɪk ˈɪt ɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
correct a mistake/wrong situation
To fix a mistake or bad situation so it is fair or good again.
Examples
- The company promised to make it right after the error.
- He apologized and tried to make it right.
right away
1/ɹˈaɪt əwˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
immediately without delay
Immediately; without waiting.
Examples
- I need you to start right away.
- I’ll call you right away when I get home.
- She called me back right away.
- She started working on it right away.
serve someone right
1/sˈɚv sˈʌmwˌʌn ɹˈaɪt/
idiom
informal
Be deservedly punished or harmed
To mean that someone got what they deserved because of their actions.
Examples
- It serves him right for lying.
- If she failed the test, it serves her right; she never studied.
serve someone right
2/sˈɚv sˈʌmwˌʌn ɹˈaɪt/
idiom
informal
deserved punishment for actions
Used when something bad happens to someone because they deserve it for what they did.
Examples
- It serves him right for lying.
- If she failed, it serves her right after all that cheating.