straight

[ streyt ]

adjective

, straight·er, straight·est.

1. without a bend, angle, or curve; not curved; direct:

   a straight path.

   Antonyms: crooked

2. exactly vertical or horizontal; in a perfectly vertical or horizontal plane:

   a straight table.

3. (of a line) generated by a point moving at a constant velocity with respect to another point.
4. evenly or uprightly formed or set:

   straight shoulders.

5. without circumlocution; frank; candid:

   straight speaking.

   Synonyms: direct, open

   Antonyms: circuitous

6. honest, honorable, or upright, as conduct, dealings, methods, or persons.

   Synonyms: equitable, fair, just, virtuous

7. Informal. reliable, as a report or information.
8. right or correct, as reasoning, thinking, or a thinker:

   Her book on the subject is a cornucopia of sanity, straight thinking, and clear vision.

9. in the proper order or condition:

   Things are straight now.

10. continuous or unbroken:

    in straight succession.

11. thoroughgoing or unreserved:

    a straight Republican.

12. supporting or cast for all candidates of one political party:

    to vote a straight ticket.

13. unmodified or unaltered:

    a straight comedy.

14. without change in the original melody or tempo:

    She does straight songs, with just the piano backing her.

15. Informal.
    1. heterosexual.
    2. traditional; conventional.
    3. free from using narcotics.
    4. not engaged in crime; law-abiding; reformed.
16. not mixed with anything; undiluted, as whiskey.
17. Theater. (of acting) straightforward; not striving for effect.
18. Journalism. written or to be written in a direct and objective manner, with no attempt at individual styling, comment, etc.:

    She gave me a straight story.

    Treat it as straight news.

19. Cards. containing cards in consecutive denominations, as a two, three, four, five, and six, in various suits.

adverb

1. in a straight line:

   to walk straight.

2. in an even form or position:

   pictures hung straight.

3. in an erect posture:

   to stand up straight.

4. directly:

   to go straight to a place.

5. without circumlocution; frankly; candidly (often followed by out ).
6. honestly, honorably, or virtuously:

   to live straight.

7. without intricate involvement; not in a roundabout way; to the point.
8. in a steady course (often followed by on ):

   to keep straight on after the second traffic light.

9. into the proper form or condition; in order:

   to put a room straight.

10. in possession of the truth or of true ideas:

    I want to set you straight before you make mistakes.

11. sold without discount regardless of the quantity bought:

    Candy bars are twenty cents straight.

12. Journalism. directly and objectively:

    Write the circus story straight.

13. without personal embellishments, additions, etc.:

    Tell the story straight.

    Sing the song straight.

14. (of liquor) served or drunk without ice, a mixer, or water; neat:

    He drank his whiskey straight.

noun

1. the condition of being straight.
2. a straight form or position.
3. a straight line.
4. a straight part, as of a racecourse.
5. Informal.
   1. a heterosexual.
   2. a person who follows traditional or conventional mores.
   3. a person who is free from narcotics.
6. Chiefly Games. a succession of strokes, plays, etc., which gives a perfect score.

straight

/ streɪt /

adjective

1. not curved or crooked; continuing in the same direction without deviating
2. straightforward, outright, or candid

   a straight rejection

3. even, level, or upright in shape or position
4. in keeping with the facts; accurate
5. honest, respectable, or reliable
6. accurate or logical

   straight reasoning

7. continuous; uninterrupted
8. (esp of an alcoholic drink) undiluted; neat
9. not crisp, kinked, or curly

   straight hair

10. correctly arranged; orderly
11. (of a play, acting style, etc) straightforward or serious
12. journalism (of a story, article, etc) giving the facts without unnecessary embellishment
13. sold at a fixed unit price irrespective of the quantity sold
14. boxing (of a blow) delivered with an unbent arm

    a straight left

15. (of the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine) in line, rather than in a V-formation or in some other arrangement

    a straight eight

16. a slang word for heterosexual
17. informal.
    no longer owing or being owed something

    if you buy the next round we'll be straight

18. slang.
    conventional in views, customs, appearance, etc
19. slang.
    not using narcotics; not addicted

adverb

1. in a straight line or direct course
2. immediately; at once

   he came straight back

3. in an even, level, or upright position
4. without cheating, lying, or unreliability

   tell it to me straight

5. continuously; uninterruptedly
6. without discount regardless of the quantity sold
7. often foll by out frankly; candidly

   he told me straight out

8. go straight informal.
   to reform after having been dishonest or a criminal

noun

1. the state of being straight
2. a straight line, form, part, or position
3. a straight part of a racetrack US namestraightaway
4. poker
   1. five cards that are in sequence irrespective of suit
   2. a hand containing such a sequence
   3. ( as modifier )

      a straight flush

5. slang.
   a conventional person
6. slang.
   a heterosexual person
7. slang.
   a cigarette containing only tobacco, without marijuana, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈstraightly, adverb
• ˈstraightness, noun

Other Words From

• straight·ly adverb
• straight·ness noun
• o·ver·straight adjective
• o·ver·straight·ly adverb
• o·ver·straight·ness noun
• su·per·straight adjective
• un·straight adjective
• un·straight·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of straight¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (adjective), originally past participle of strecchen “to stretch”; stretch

Word History and Origins

Origin of straight¹

C14: from the past participle of Old English streccan to stretch

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go straight, Informal. to live a law-abiding life; no longer engage in crime.
2. play it straight, Informal. to do something without jokes, tricks, subterfuge, distortions, or the like:

   a comedian who plays it straight when he crusades against drug abuse.

3. straight off, without delay; immediately: Also straight away.

   I told him straight off what I thought about the matter.

4. straight up, (of a cocktail) served without ice:

   a gin martini straight up.

More idioms and phrases containing straight

• (straight) from the horse's mouth
• get something straight
• give it to (someone straight)
• go straight
• keep a straight face
• right (straight) out
• set straight
• shoot straight

Example Sentences

The exact impact of these tariffs is hard to discern, considering that the full effects can take years to settle in and the inflationary impact of the pandemic makes it difficult to draw straight lines.

From Salon

The run certainly isn't terminal in terms of their bid to win a record-extending fifth straight Premier League title, given they are only five points behind leaders Liverpool and four points clear of third-placed Chelsea.

From BBC

“A Different Man” is neither a straightforward drama nor a straight thriller.

From Los Angeles Times

But it was in the second half when Knecht, for the second straight game, flipped things.

From Los Angeles Times

Progress has not been a straight line and the league collapsed within two years, but the impact was still far-reaching and, according to Scurry, "set the groundwork" for what has happened since.

From BBC

Related Words

• consecutive
• nonstop
• short
• smooth
• solid
• straightforward
• successive
• true