OK

1 of 4

adverb or adjective

ō-ˈkā 

 in assenting or agreeing also  ˈō-ˌkā

variants or okay or less commonly ok

: all right

OK, Doctor, I'll let you know

—John Hersey

OK

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noun

ō-ˈkā 

variants or okay

: approval, endorsement

OK

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verb

ō-ˈkā 

variants or okay

OK'd or okayed; OK'ing or okaying

transitive verb

: approve, authorize

OK

4 of 4

abbreviation

Oklahoma

Synonyms

Adverb or adjective

• acceptably
• adequately
• all right
• alright
• creditably
• decently
• fine
• good
• middlingly
• nicely
• passably
• respectably
• satisfactorily
• serviceably
• so-so
• sufficiently
• tolerably
• well

Noun

• approbation
• approval
• blessing
• favor
• imprimatur

Verb

• accredit
• approbate
• approve
• authorize
• clear
• confirm
• finalize
• formalize
• homologate
• ratify
• sanction
• warrant

Examples of OK in a Sentence

Adverb or adjective

you did OK on that last test

OK, fine, I'll go to the party

that dinner was OK, but I liked yesterday's better

this latest draft of the essay is OK but could be better

Noun

We need her OK on this before we place the order.

The boss gave his okay.

Verb

The boss needs to OK this before we place the order.

a judge will have to OK the search warrant

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective, Noun, and Verb

abbreviation of oll korrect, facetious alteration of all correct

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1839, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing OK

• A-OK

Kids Definition

OK

1 of 3 adverb or adjective

variants or okay

ō-ˈkā 

: all right

OK

2 of 3 noun

variants or okay

: approval

gave their OK to start the project

OK

3 of 3 verb

variants or okay

OK'd or okayed; OK'ing or okaying

: approve sense 2

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

an abbreviation of oll korrect, an altered form of all correct

Word Origin

In the late 1830s Boston newspapers were filled with abbreviations. Abbreviation was apparently the fashion at that time. Any phrase might be shortened. The fad even went so far as to produce abbreviations for intentional misspellings. Such popular expressions as N.G. (no go) and A.R. (all right) gave way to K.G. (know go) and O.W. (oll wright). The abbreviation O.K. stood for oll korrect, a deliberate misspelling of all correct. Several of these abbreviated misspellings became popular for a time, but O.K. was the only one to gain a lasting place in the language.