all right

¹

[ awl rahyt, awl rahyt ]

adverb

1. yes; very well; OK:

   All right, I'll go with you.

2. (used as an interrogative or interrogative tag) OK?; do you agree?:

   We'll deal with this problem tomorrow, all right?

3. satisfactorily; acceptably:

   His work is coming along all right.

4. without fail; certainly:

   You'll hear about this, all right!

adjective

1. safe; sound:

   Are you all right?

2. satisfactory; acceptable:

   His performance was all right, but I've seen better.

3. Informal. reliable; good:

   That fellow is all right.

all-right

²

[ awl-rahyt ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. agreeable, acceptable, or commendable:

   an all-right plan.

all right

adjective

1. adequate; satisfactory
2. unharmed; safe
3. all-right slang.
   1. acceptable

      an all-right book

   2. reliable

      an all-right guy

sentence substitute

1. very well: used to express assent

adverb

1. satisfactorily; adequately

   the car goes all right

2. without doubt

   he's a bad one, all right

Usage

See alright

Spelling Note

See alright.

Word History and Origins

Origin of all right¹

First recorded in 1100–50; originally an adverbial phrase; compare Middle English al ri(g)ht “indeed, straightway, at once,” late Old English eall riht “just (as)”

Origin of all right²

First recorded in 1815–25

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. (a) bit of all right, British. quite satisfactory (used as an understatement):

   The way he saved that child's life was a bit of all right.

Example Sentences

“After this comes out, she’ll be like, ‘All right, that means you’re going to really earn it here at home,’” he added.

From Los Angeles Times

But with Timothée Chalamet playing Dylan, you don’t think twice — it’s probably all right.

From Los Angeles Times

And then, in general, career-wise, I have this thing that is probably not uncommon for actors to have, but every job that I do, I finish it and I’m like, “All right, it was nice while it lasted,” you know?

From Los Angeles Times

"Twenty years ago, if you were to say to me that I'd be in a wheelchair, I'd be like 'Nah mate, it's all right. I'd rather go.'"

From BBC

“I’m used to imagining what a keyboard part would be, and this and that. Now, they’re all right there.”

From Los Angeles Times