straighten
gb/stɹˈeɪtən/ us/stɹˈeɪtən/
A2
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Make something straight
To make something that is not straight become straight or neat.
Usage pattern:
to straighten [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'straighten' with 'stretch'. 'Straighten' means to make straight; 'stretch' means to pull to make longer or looser.
Synonyms
align (Emphasizes positioning things in a straight line.)
|
tidy (Focuses on making things neat, not necessarily physically straight.)
Antonyms
bend (Means to make something curved or not straight.)
|
mess up (Means to make something untidy or disordered.)
Collocations
straighten a picture
|straighten your tie
|straighten the room
|straighten the desk
|straighten the bed
Themes
daily life
|home
|appearance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She straightened the picture frame before leaving the room.
- He paused to straighten his tie in the mirror.
- I need to straighten the books on the shelf.
- The cleaner straightened the chairs after the meeting.
- Straighten your posture when you walk.
Learner examples
- I straighten my bed every morning.
- She straightens her hair with a brush.
- Please straighten the chairs after lunch.
- He straightens his tie before work.
Verb
B1
action
2
Become straight
To change into a straight or neat form.
Usage pattern:
[something] straightens
Synonyms
unbend (Specifically about removing a bend or curve.)
Antonyms
bend (Means to curve or make less straight.)
Collocations
hair straightens
|line straightens
|posture straightens
Themes
daily life
|appearance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His back slowly straightened after he stood up.
- The road straightens after the bend.
- Her hair straightens when it dries naturally.
Learner examples
- The road straightens after the hill.
- My back straightens when I stand tall.
- Her hair straightens in the sun.
Verb
B1
action
3
Correct a problem or situation
To make a problem or situation better and more organized.
Usage pattern:
to straighten [something] out
Common mistake:
Learners may forget 'out' in 'straighten out' when talking about fixing problems.
Synonyms
resolve (Focuses on finding a solution to a problem.)
|
sort out (Informal way of saying fix or arrange a situation.)
Antonyms
complicate (To make a situation more difficult instead of fixing it.)
Collocations
straighten out a problem
|straighten out finances
|straighten out misunderstanding
Themes
problem solving
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We need to straighten out this misunderstanding before it gets worse.
- He spent the weekend trying to straighten out his finances.
- The new manager came in to straighten out the department's problems.
Learner examples
- I want to straighten out this problem.
- We must straighten out our money issues.
- She will straighten out the team problems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
straighten
IPA
GB/stɹˈeɪtən/
US/stɹˈeɪtən/
Syllables & stress
straight - en (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (straight)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: straighten
- 3rd Person Singular: straightens
- Present Participle: straightening
- Past: straightened
Word family
Forms
straightens
verb
straightening
verb
straightened
verb
Core family
straight
adjective A1
straightener
noun
Related words
straightness
noun
straightforward
adjective B1
Negative and opposite forms
bend
verb A2
crooked
adjective
Advanced or less common
straightforwardly
adverb
Expressions
straighten out
1/stɹˈeɪtən ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Fix a problem or confusion
To make a problem clear and correct it.
Examples
- We need to straighten out this billing error.
- She called the company to straighten out the delivery issue.
straighten up
1/stɹˈeɪtən ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Make neat or tidy
To make a place clean and organized.
Examples
- Please straighten up your room before dinner.
- They spent the afternoon straightening up the office.
straighten up and fly right
1/stɹˈeɪtən ˈʌp ˈænd flˈaɪ ɹˈaɪt/
idiom
informal
Start behaving properly
To behave well after doing wrong or being lazy.
Examples
- If you don't straighten up and fly right, you'll lose your job.
- He decided to straighten up and fly right after getting in trouble at school.