RIGHT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does right mean? 

• RIGHT (noun)
  The noun RIGHT has 8 senses:

1. an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature

2. location near or direction toward the right side; i.e. the side to the south when a person or object faces east

3. the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's right

4. those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged

5. the hand that is on the right side of the body

6. a turn toward the side of the body that is on the south when the person is facing east

7. anything in accord with principles of justice

8. (frequently plural) the interest possessed by law or custom in some intangible thing

  Familiarity information: RIGHT used as a noun is common.

• RIGHT (adjective)
  The adjective RIGHT has 15 senses:

1. being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the east when facing north

2. free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth

3. socially right or correct

4. in conformance with justice or law or morality

5. correct in opinion or judgment

6. appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion or a person's character, needs

7. of or belonging to the political or intellectual right

8. in or into a satisfactory condition

9. intended for the right hand

10. in accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure

11. having the axis perpendicular to the base

12. (of the side of cloth or clothing) facing or intended to face outward

13. (informal) very; used informally as an intensifier

14. most suitable or right for a particular purpose

15. precisely accurate

  Familiarity information: RIGHT used as an adjective is familiar.

• RIGHT (verb)
  The verb RIGHT has 4 senses:

1. make reparations or amends for

2. put in or restore to an upright position

3. regain an upright or proper position

4. make right or correct

  Familiarity information: RIGHT used as a verb is uncommon.

• RIGHT (adverb)
  The adverb RIGHT has 10 senses:

1. precisely, exactly

2. immediately

3. exactly

4. toward or on the right; also used figuratively

5. in the right manner; correctly; suitably

6. an interjection expressing agreement

7. (Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree

8. to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally for 'wholly')

9. in accordance with moral or social standards

10. in an accurate manner

  Familiarity information: RIGHT used as an adverb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RIGHT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

a right is not something that somebody gives you; it is something that nobody can take away

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

abstract; abstraction (a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "right"):

access (the right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something (as services or membership))

riparian right; water right (right of access to water)

voting right (the right to vote; especially the right of a common shareholder to vote in person or by proxy on the affairs of a company)

states' rights (the rights conceded to the states by the United States constitution)

right of way (the right of one vehicle or vessel to take precedence over another)

right of search (the right of a belligerent to stop neutral ships on the high seas in wartime and search them)

right of action (the legal right to sue)

representation (the right of being represented by delegates who have a voice in some legislative body)

privilege ((law) the right to refuse to divulge information obtained in a confidential relationship)

exclusive right; perquisite; prerogative; privilege (a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right))

legal right (a right based in law)

advowson (the right in English law of presenting a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice)

cabotage (the exclusive right of a country to control the air traffic within its borders)

claim; title (an informal right to something)

due (that which is deserved or owed)

access; accession; admission; admittance; entree (the right to enter)

floor (the parliamentary right to address an assembly)

grant (a right or privilege that has been granted)

human right ((law) any basic right or freedom to which all human beings are entitled and in whose exercise a government may not interfere (including rights to life and liberty as well as freedom of thought and expression and equality before the law))

pre-emption; preemption (the right to purchase something in advance of others)

Derivation:

right (make reparations or amends for)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Location near or direction toward the right side; i.e. the side to the south when a person or object faces east

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Context example:

he stood on the right

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

place; position (the particular portion of space occupied by something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "right"):

right stage; stage right (the part of the stage on the actor's right as the actor faces the audience)

Antonym:

left (location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's right

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

right; right field; rightfield

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

parcel; parcel of land; piece of ground; piece of land; tract (an extended area of land)

Holonyms ("right" is a part of...):

outfield (the area of a baseball playing field beyond the lines connecting the bases)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

right; right wing

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

faction; sect (a dissenting clique)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "right"):

religious right (United States political faction that advocates social and political conservativism, school prayer, and federal aid for religious groups and schools)

hard right (the extreme right wing)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The hand that is on the right side of the body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

right; right hand

Context example:

hit him with quick rights to the body

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

hand; manus; mitt; paw (the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A turn toward the side of the body that is on the south when the person is facing east

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

take a right at the corner

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

turn; turning (the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Anything in accord with principles of justice

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

right; rightfulness

Context example:

the rightfulness of his claim

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

justice; justness (the quality of being just or fair)

Antonym:

wrong (that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law)

Sense 8

Meaning:

(frequently plural) the interest possessed by law or custom in some intangible thing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Context example:

film rights

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

interest; stake ((law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

Derivation:

right (make reparations or amends for)

• RIGHT (adjective)

Declension: comparative and superlative

Sense 1

Meaning:

Being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the east when facing north

Context example:

the right bank of a river is the bank on your right side when you are facing downstream

Similar:

far (being the animal or vehicle on the right or being on the right side of an animal or vehicle)

rightmost (farthest to the right)

right-hand (located on or directed toward the right)

starboard (located on the right side of a ship or aircraft)

Also:

right-handed (using or intended for the right hand)

Attribute:

place; position (the particular portion of space occupied by something)

Antonym:

left (being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth

Synonyms:

correct; right

Context example:

the right decision

Similar:

accurate; exact; precise ((of ideas, images, representations, expressions) characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth; strictly correct)

letter-perfect; word-perfect (correct to the last detail; especially being in or following the exact words)

straight (following a correct or logical method)

Also:

accurate (conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy)

proper (marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness)

true (consistent with fact or reality; not false)

Attribute:

correctness; rightness (conformity to fact or truth)

Antonym:

wrong (not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth)

Derivation:

rightness (conformity to fact or truth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Socially right or correct

Synonyms:

correct; right

Context example:

correct behavior

Similar:

proper (marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness)

Derivation:

rightness (appropriate conduct; doing the right thing)

Sense 4

Meaning:

In conformance with justice or law or morality

Context example:

do the right thing and confess

Similar:

ethical; honorable; honourable (adhering to ethical and moral principles)

Also:

ethical (conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behavior)

good (morally admirable)

just (used especially of what is legally or ethically right or proper or fitting)

proper (marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness)

Attribute:

rightness (according with conscience or morality)

Antonym:

wrong (contrary to conscience or morality or law)

Derivation:

rightness (according with conscience or morality)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Correct in opinion or judgment

Synonyms:

correct; right

Context example:

time proved him right

Similar:

right-minded (disposed toward or having views based on what is right)

Antonym:

wrong (based on or acting or judging in error)

Derivation:

rightness (appropriate conduct; doing the right thing)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion or a person's character, needs

Synonyms:

proper; right

Context example:

she is not suitable for the position

Similar:

appropriate (suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Of or belonging to the political or intellectual right

Similar:

conservative (having social or political views favoring conservatism)

old-line; oldline (adhering to conservative or reactionary principles)

far-right; reactionary; reactionist (opposed to political or social liberalism or reform)

rightish (tending toward the political right)

right-wing; rightist (believing in or supporting tenets of the political right)

Also:

conservative (resistant to change, particularly in relation to politics or religion)

Antonym:

center (of or belonging to neither the right nor the left politically or intellectually)

left (of or belonging to the political or intellectual left)

Sense 8

Meaning:

In or into a satisfactory condition

Context example:

put things right

Similar:

satisfactory (giving satisfaction)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Intended for the right hand

Synonyms:

right; right-hand

Context example:

a right-hand glove

Similar:

right-handed (using or intended for the right hand)

Sense 10

Meaning:

In accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure

Synonyms:

correct; right

Context example:

the right way to open oysters

Similar:

proper (marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Having the axis perpendicular to the base

Context example:

a right angle

Similar:

perpendicular (intersecting at or forming right angles)

Domain category:

geometry (the pure mathematics of points and lines and curves and surfaces)

Sense 12

Meaning:

(of the side of cloth or clothing) facing or intended to face outward

Context example:

be sure your shirt is right side out

Similar:

outside (relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit)

Sense 13

Meaning:

(informal) very; used informally as an intensifier

Synonyms:

one; right

Context example:

a right fine day

Similar:

extraordinary (beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable)

Domain usage:

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

Sense 14

Meaning:

Most suitable or right for a particular purpose

Synonyms:

good; right; ripe

Context example:

the time is ripe for great sociological changes

Similar:

opportune (suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose)

Sense 15

Meaning:

Precisely accurate

Synonyms:

right; veracious

Context example:

a veracious account

Similar:

accurate (conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy)

• RIGHT (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make reparations or amends for

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

compensate; correct; redress; right

Context example:

right a wrongs done to the victims of the Holocaust

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

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

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

over-correct; overcompensate (make excessive corrections for fear of making an error)

aby; abye; atone; expiate (make amends for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

wrong (treat unjustly; do wrong to)

Derivation:

right (an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature)

right ((frequently plural) the interest possessed by law or custom in some intangible thing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put in or restore to an upright position

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

They righted the sailboat that had capsized

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

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Verb group:

right (regain an upright or proper position)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Regain an upright or proper position

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The capsized boat righted again

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

change posture (undergo a change in bodily posture)

Verb group:

right (put in or restore to an upright position)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make right or correct

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

correct; rectify; right

Context example:

rectify the calculation

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

change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)

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

amend; rectify; remediate; remedy; repair (set straight or right)

debug (locate and correct errors in a computer program code)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

• RIGHT (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Precisely, exactly

Context example:

stand right here!

Sense 2

Meaning:

Immediately

Context example:

she called right after dinner

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exactly

Synonyms:

flop; right

Context example:

he fell flop on his face

Domain usage:

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

Toward or on the right; also used figuratively

Context example:

the party has moved right

Antonym:

left (toward or on the left; also used figuratively)

Sense 5

Meaning:

In the right manner; correctly; suitably

Synonyms:

decent; decently; properly; right

Context example:

can't you carry me decent?

Sense 6

Meaning:

An interjection expressing agreement

Synonyms:

right; right on

Sense 7

Meaning:

(Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree

Synonyms:

mightily; mighty; powerful; right

Context example:

they rejoiced mightily

Domain usage:

intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)

Sense 8

Meaning:

To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent ('whole' is often used informally for 'wholly')

Synonyms:

all; altogether; completely; entirely; right; totally; whole; wholly

Context example:

he fell right into the trap

Sense 9

Meaning:

In accordance with moral or social standards

Synonyms:

justly; right

Context example:

do right by him

Sense 10

Meaning:

In an accurate manner

Synonyms:

aright; correctly; right

Context example:

he guessed right

Antonym:

wrongly (in an inaccurate manner)

Pertainym:

right (precisely accurate)

 Context examples 

I saw Holmes’s eye darting to right and left among the litter of iron and wood which was scattered about the floor.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A question about whether an individual is or was able to find the right words to say what they mean.

(Able to Find the Right Words to Say, NCI Thesaurus)

Yes, you are right: do sit down.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

This time, after going to the far side of the Pass, he suddenly turned down a narrow roadway which ran sharply to the right.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Viewed from the side, the disk looks brighter on the left than it does on the right.

(NASA Visualization Shows a Black Hole’s Warped World, NASA)

Suddenly my companion’s voice broke in upon my thoughts: “You are right, Watson,” said he.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Once inside, the catalyst converts the inactive panobinostat into its active and toxic form, thus killing off the tumour cell just where we want: right inside the tumour cell.

(Scientists successfully deliver “Trojan horse” catalysts into cancerous tumour cells to destroy them from within, Universities of Granada)

She always takes the right time for applying.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I assure you, madam, that it is all right.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Thrice he tried to knock him over, then repeated the trick and broke the right fore leg.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)