OKAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does okay mean? 

• OKAY (noun)
  The noun OKAY has 1 sense:

1. an endorsement

  Familiarity information: OKAY used as a noun is very rare.

• OKAY (adjective)
  The adjective OKAY has 1 sense:

1. being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

  Familiarity information: OKAY used as an adjective is very rare.

• OKAY (verb)
  The verb OKAY has 1 sense:

1. give sanction to

  Familiarity information: OKAY used as a verb is very rare.

• OKAY (adverb)
  The adverb OKAY has 1 sense:

1. in a satisfactory or adequate manner

  Familiarity information: OKAY used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OKAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An endorsement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

O.K.; OK; okay; okeh; okey

Context example:

they gave us the O.K. to go ahead

Hypernyms ("okay" is a kind of...):

countenance; endorsement; imprimatur; indorsement; sanction; warrant (formal and explicit approval)

Derivation:

okay (give sanction to)

• OKAY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

Synonyms:

all right; cool; fine; hunky-dory; o.k.; ok; okay

Context example:

another minute I'd have been fine

Similar:

satisfactory (giving satisfaction)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

• OKAY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they okay    ... he / she / it okays   
Past simple: okayed   
Past participle: okayed   
-ing form: okaying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give sanction to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

approve; O.K.; okay; sanction

Context example:

I approve of his educational policies

Hypernyms (to "okay" is one way to...):

authorise; authorize; clear; pass (grant authorization or clearance for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "okay"):

sanction (give religious sanction to, such as through on oath)

visa (approve officially)

back; endorse; indorse; plump for; plunk for; support (be behind; approve of)

confirm (support a person for a position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

okay (an endorsement)

• OKAY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a satisfactory or adequate manner

Synonyms:

all right; alright; O.K.; okay

Context example:

held up all right under pressure

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

 Context examples 

That might be okay with you—see how you feel—but if you must sign, do.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Meg didn't, Jo won't, Beth can't yet, so I shall, and make everything okay all round.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)