all right

1 of 2

adjective

1

: satisfactory, agreeable

Whatever you decide is all right with me.

2

: safe, well

He was ill but he's all right now.

3

informal : good, pleasing

—often used as a generalized term of approval

an all right guy

all right or alright?: Usage Guide

Although the spelling alright is more than a century and a half old, some critics have insisted alright is all wrong. Nevertheless, it has its defenders and its users, who perhaps have been influenced by analogy with altogether and already. Alright is less common than all right but is frequently found in informal writing and fictional dialogue.

Starting at a slower pace is perfectly alright.

—Alia Haley

"Alright, it is a bargain. I will help you."

—Harold Bell Wright

It is sometimes also used in more formal writing.

The first two years of the medical school were alright.

—Gertrude Stein

all right

2 of 2

adverb

1

: beyond doubt : certainly

She has pneumonia all right.

2

—used interjectionally especially to express agreement or resignation or to indicate the resumption of a discussion

All right, we can do that if you want.

All right, let's go.

3

: well enough : satisfactorily

He does all right in school.

Synonyms

Adjective

• agreeable
• alright
• copacetic
• copasetic
• copesetic
• ducky
• fine
• good
• hunky-dory
• jake [slang]
• OK
• okay
• palatable
• satisfactory

Adverb

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

Examples of all right in a Sentence

Adjective

The quality of his work is all right but not outstanding.

Her first movie was pretty bad but her second one was all right.

Is it all right to leave early?

Is this movie all right for children?

He was very sick but now he's all right again.

“Are you hurt?” “No, I'm all right.”

She was upset when her boyfriend left, but she's all right now.

Adverb

She does all right in school.

The engine was sputtering when I started it, but it's running all right now.

“How's your father?” “He was pretty sick, but he's doing all right now.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The second song on the album sinks into the R&B influence and the slight delusions that everything will be all right when all the stars are aligned. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 4 Nov. 2024

That’s all right too—even if your drink doesn’t contain enough of the good stuff to officially make a difference. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 21 Oct. 2024

Bottom line, this boy’s probably all right and ready to deal come that November 2 weekend. —Guy Martin, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024

Friendships do not always last a lifetime, and that’s all right. —Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Video

Alright vs. All Right

Is 'alright' all right?

Kids Definition

all right

1 of 2 adjective

1

: satisfactory, correct

it is all right with me

2

: safe entry 1 sense 1, well

he was sick but he's all right now

all right

2 of 2 adverb

1

: very well : yes

all right, I'll come

—used as an interjection especially to show agreement or acceptance or to show the continuation of a discussion

2

: beyond doubt : certainly

that's the one all right

3

: reasonably well

does all right in school