also OK, O.K., ok
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you say that something is ~, you find it satisfactory or acceptable. (INFORMAL)
...a shooting range where it’s OK to use weapons...
Is it ~ if I come by myself?...
I guess for a fashionable restaurant like this the prices are OK.
= all right
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, it v-link ADJ if
•
Okay is also an adverb.
We seemed to manage ~ for the first year or so after David was born.
= all right
ADV: ADV after v
2.
If you say that someone is ~, you mean that they are safe and well. (INFORMAL)
Check that the baby’s ~...
‘Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I’ll be ~.’
= all right
ADJ: v-link ADJ
3.
You can say ‘Okay’ to show that you agree to something. (INFORMAL)
‘Just tell him Sir Kenneth would like to talk to him.’—‘OK.’...
‘Shall I give you a ring on Friday?’—‘Yeah ~.’
= all right
CONVENTION formulae
4.
You can say ‘Okay?’ to check whether the person you are talking to understands what you have said and accepts it. (INFORMAL)
We’ll get together next week, OK?
= all right
CONVENTION
5.
You can use ~ to indicate that you want to start talking about something else or doing something else. (INFORMAL)
OK. Now, let’s talk some business...
Tim jumped to his feet. ‘Okay, let’s go.’
= right
CONVENTION
6.
You can use ~ to stop someone arguing with you by showing that you accept the point they are making, though you do not necessarily regard it as very important. (INFORMAL)
Okay, there is a slight difference...
Okay, so I’m forty-two.
CONVENTION
7.
If someone in authority ~s something, they officially agree to it or allow it to happen. (INFORMAL)
His doctor wouldn’t OK the trip...
VERB: V n
•
Okay is also a noun.
He gave the ~ to issue a new press release...
N-SING: the N