straight

1 of 4

adjective

ˈstrāt 

1

a

: free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities

straight hair

straight timber

b

: generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed by a linear equation

a straight line

the straight segment of a curve

2

a

: lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method

a straight thinker

b

: candid, frank

a straight answer

c

: coming directly from a trustworthy source

a straight tip on the horses

d(1)

: having the elements in an order

the straight sequence of events

(2)

: consecutive

12 straight days

e

: having the cylinders arranged in a single straight line

a straight 8-cylinder engine

f

: plumb, vertical

the picture isn't quite straight

3

a

: exhibiting honesty and fairness

straight dealing

b

: properly ordered or arranged

set the kitchen straight

set us straight on that issue

also : correct

get the facts straight

c

: free from extraneous matter : unmixed

straight whiskey

d

: marked by no exceptions or deviations in support of a principle or party

votes a straight Democratic ticket

e

: having a fixed price for each regardless of the number sold

f

: not deviating from an indicated pattern

writes straight humor

a straight-A student

g(1)

: exhibiting no deviation from what is established or accepted as usual, normal, or proper : conventional

also : square sense 5f

(2)

: not using or under the influence of drugs or alcohol

h(1)

: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction to or between people of the opposite sex : heterosexual sense 1a

(2)

: of, relating to, or involving sexual activity between individuals of the opposite sex : heterosexual sense 1b

4

: being the only form of remuneration

on straight commission

straightish

ˈstrā-tish 

adjective

straightly adverb

straightness noun

straight

2 of 4

adverb

: in a straight manner

came straight home from work

straight

3 of 4

verb

straighted; straighting; straights

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

: straighten

straight

4 of 4

noun

1

: something that is straight: such as

a

: a straight line or arrangement

b

: straightaway

especially : homestretch

c

: a true or honest report or course

2

a

: a sequence (as of shots, strokes, or moves) resulting in a perfect score in a game or contest

b

: first place at the finish of a horse race : win

3

: a poker hand containing five cards in sequence but not of the same suit see poker illustration

4

: a person who adheres to conventional attitudes and mores

Did you know?

strait or straight?

Straight and strait are homophones (“one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling”), and many people are in the habit of confusing such creatures, particularly when used in fixed phrases. If you express no emotion you have a straight face; an upright person is a straight shooter; a straight flush is “a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit in sequence.” However, if you find yourself in a difficult situation you are in dire straits. Straitjacket and straitlaced are the more commonly used forms for the restrictive garment and the “strict in manners” adjective, although straightjacket and straightlaced are also occasionally found.

Synonyms

Adjective

• direct
• linear
• right
• straightaway
• straightforward

Adverb

• dead
• direct
• directly
• due
• plumb
• plump
• right
• straightway

Examples of straight in a Sentence

Adjective

She has long, straight hair.

The flagpole is perfectly straight.

The picture isn't quite straight.

We sat in the airport for five straight hours.

Adverb

She walked straight up to him and slapped him in the face.

The tunnel goes straight through the mountain.

The library is straight ahead.

He was so drunk he couldn't walk straight.

She sat with her legs straight out.

The tree fell straight down.

The car went straight off the road.

She told him straight to his face that she hated him.

Pine trees stood straight along the path.

Sit up straight and don't slouch.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sticking with the clamshell and flip designs for six straight iterations and improving them gradually with every release. —Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Sunday's stunning loss to the New England Patriots was the Jets' fifth straight setback 🤢. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2024

Adverb

That’s a sign that instead of pitching around him, they Dodgers are going straight after him. —Maury Brown, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Get the Robb Report newsletter for similar stories delivered straight to your inbox. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English streght, straight, from past participle of strecchen to stretch — more at stretch

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing straight

• deal/play straight
• get one's priorities straight
• get one's/the facts straight
• get (something) straight
• give it to someone straight
• go straight
• have/get one's head (screwed) on right/straight
• keep a straight face
• on the straight and narrow
• ramrod straight
• set one straight
• set/put someone straight
• set/put (something) straight
• set/put the record straight
• set (someone) right/straight
• straight-ahead
• straight and narrow
• straight angle
• straight-arm
• straight arrow
• straight as a ramrod
• straight chain
• straight face
• straight flush
• straight from the heart
• straight from the top
• straight-line
• straight-line wind
• straight man
• straight off
• straight-out
• straight poker
• straight razor
• straight shooter
• straight talk
• the inside/straight/real skinny
• the straight and narrow
• the straight dope

Kids Definition

straight

1 of 2 adjective

ˈstrāt 

1

a

: free from curves, bends, angles, or unevenness

straight hair

straight timber

b

: formed by a point moving continuously in the same direction

a straight line

2

a

: holding to a proper course or method

a straight thinker

b

: frank, candid

a straight answer

3

: vertical sense 2, upright

the picture isn't quite straight

4

a

: exhibiting truth, fairness, and honesty : just

straight dealings

b

: correctly ordered or arranged

set the kitchen straight

also : correct

get the facts straight

c

: consecutive

five straight hours

d

: having nothing added

straight liquor

e

: making no exceptions in one's voting for a political party

voted a straight ticket

f

: not varying from a pattern

writes straight humor

g

: conventional

h

: not using or under the influence of drugs

i

: heterosexual entry 1

5

: being the only form of payment

on straight commission

straightness noun

straight

2 of 2 adverb

: in a straight manner, course, or line

came straight home from school