INDEX:
right/correct
1. answers, statements, calculations etc that are correct
2. to be correct in what you say or think
3. in the correct order, position etc
4. in the correct way
5. to make something correct
right/justified
6. when it is right or reasonable to do something
7. to have a good reason for thinking or doing something
8. to show that something is right to do
right/to have the right to do something
9. a legal or official right
10. the political and social rights that everyone should have
11. a special right belonging to one person or group
12. to have or give someone a legal right
RELATED WORDS
right or suitable for a particular person, job, purpose etc : ↑ SUITABLE
morally correct : ↑ GOOD (13)
see also
↑ FAIR
◆◆◆
1. answers, statements, calculations etc that are correct
▷ right /raɪt/ [adjective]
if something that someone says or thinks is right, it is correct or true, especially because it contains the true facts or details :
▪ Yes, that’s the right answer.
▪ Is that the right time?
▪ Excuse me, but the bill isn’t right - we didn’t have a Caesar salad.
that’s right
spoken
▪ ‘Your mother’s a teacher, isn’t she?’ ‘Yes, that’s right.’
▷ correct /kəˈrekt/ [adjective]
something such as an answer, fact, or calculation that is correct is true, has no mistakes etc, especially because it is the only answer or result that is possible :
▪ The first ten correct answers will win a prize.
▪ This information is no longer correct.
▪ The correct results are on page 482.
▷ accurate /ˈækjɑrət/ [adjective]
information, measurements, descriptions etc that are accurate are completely correct and all the details are true :
▪ She was able to give the police an accurate description of her attacker.
▪ It is vital that the measurements be accurate.
▪ The authorities still do not have accurate information on the number of people killed or injured in the crash.
2. to be correct in what you say or think
▷ be right /biː ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase]
▪ You’re right - there’s not going to be enough food for everyone.
be right about
▪ Durrell is absolutely right about the importance of software to the local economy.
be right about one thing
say this when part of someone’s opinion or what they say is right, but the rest is wrong
▪ It’s not a great album, but Samuels was right about one thing: it’s going to sell in the millions.
be right in saying/thinking etc
▪ Moore is right in saying that the present tax system is unfair.
▷ get something right /ˌget something ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase]
to say the correct facts or details when you are telling a story, describing an event etc :
▪ Make sure you get people’s names right when you’re sending out the invitations.
▪ ‘I learned,’ he stopped, wanting to get the words right, ‘I learned I was selfish.’
▷ be correct in saying/thinking etc /biː kəˌrekt ɪn ˈseɪ-ɪŋ/ [verb phrase]
if someone is correct in saying or thinking a particular fact, the fact is correct, especially when they are not sure if it is correct or not :
▪ Monroe was correct in saying that unemployment has dropped in the last five years.
▪ I believe I am correct in saying that two of the original computer languages were Cobol and Prolog.
▪ The jury was correct in thinking that the prosecution had not presented a strong case.
▷ be on the right track /biː ɒn ðə ˌraɪt ˈtræk/ [verb phrase]
to not yet know the complete answer to a question or problem, but be close to finding it because you are already partly correct :
▪ No, that’s not quite right, but you’re on the right track.
▪ Researchers are still a long way from finding a cure for the disease, but many seem confident they are on the right track.
▷ hit the nail on the head/put your finger on it /hɪt ðə ˌneɪl ɒn ðə ˈhed, pʊt jɔːʳ ˈfɪŋgər ɒn ɪt/ [verb phrase]
to say something that is exactly right and that is the answer to a problem which people have been thinking about for a long time :
▪ Garson hits the nail on the head - at the heart of the abortion debate is a religious issue.
▪ Wyman put his finger on it when he said the truth was complicated.
▷ be spot on /biː ˌspɒt ˈɒnǁ-ˌspɑːt-/ [verb phrase] British informal
to be exactly right, especially by guessing correctly :
▪ ‘Is the answer 42?’ ‘You’re spot on! Well done, Mary.’
▷ infallible /ɪnˈfælɪb ə l, ɪnˈfæləb ə l/ [adjective]
someone or something that is infallible is always right and never makes mistakes - use this especially to say that this is not usually true or is extremely rare :
▪ Computer spell checkers are useful but far from infallible.
▪ Juries are not infallible. Innocent people are convicted, and guilty people go free.
3. in the correct order, position etc
▷ right /raɪt/ [adjective]
in the order, position etc that is correct or that someone thinks is correct :
▪ If you don’t push the buttons in the right order, nothing will happen.
▪ Put the words in the right order to make a sentence.
▪ She pushed the hat further back on her head. ‘Does this look right?’
▪ No, that’s not quite right. Lower the left hand corner of the painting just a little more.
▷ correct /kəˈrekt/ [adjective]
the correct order, sequence, position etc is the exact one that is correct :
▪ When arranged in the correct order, the letters will spell a word which you fill in on this grid.
▪ The correct sequence of numbers must be entered to open the lock.
▷ the right way up /ðə ˌraɪt weɪ ˈʌp/ [adverb]
if something is the right way up, the top of it is facing up, the way it is intended to :
▪ Make sure the box is the right way up before you open it.
▪ The picture isn’t hung the right way up.
▷ the right way round /ðə ˌraɪt weɪ ˈraʊnd/ [adverb] British
if something is the right way round, the front is facing in the correct direction :
▪ Maria turned the medallion the right way round on its chain.
▪ Be careful to fit the part onto the board the right way round.
4. in the correct way
▷ correctly /kəˈrektli/ [adverb]
done or said without making any mistakes or with the correct facts or details, especially when there is only one possible way, answer or result :
▪ We are confident the tests were carried out correctly.
▪ The drug is quite safe if taken correctly.
▪ Egg whites are correctly whipped when they hold their peaks.
▷ right /raɪt/ [] especially spoken
something that is done right is done correctly and well, especially according to someone’s own ideas or opinions :
▪ Have I spelled your name right?
▪ Most people can’t do it right the first time.
▪ The government can’t seem to do anything right.
▷ rightly /ˈraɪtli/ [adverb]
done or said in a way that is correct, because you have all the correct facts or details :
▪ As he rightly pointed out, there is no real evidence that the president acted improperly.
▪ Buller’s actions have been rightly criticized as ineffective.
rightly or wrongly
use this to show that it is true that someone feels or thinks something, even though what they feel or think may be wrong
▪ Rightly or wrongly, many employees feel pushed to work longer hours.
▷ properly /ˈprɒpəʳliǁˈprɑː-/ [adverb] especially British
if you do something properly, you do it in the way it should be done :
▪ He accused me of not doing my job properly.
▪ It will take time to properly investigate the matter.
▪ He questions whether the experiments were conducted properly.
5. to make something correct
▷ correct /kəˈrekt/ [transitive verb]
▪ Teachers spend many hours correcting students’ assignments.
▪ It will take us some time to correct all the mistakes.
▪ Is there any way of politely correcting someone’s grammar?
correct me if I’m wrong
say this when you think what you are saying is right, but you are not sure
▪ Correct me if I’m wrong, but haven’t we met before?
▷ correction /kəˈrekʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
a mark or note correcting something on a piece of written work :
▪ My essay was covered in corrections in red ink.
▪ Corrections should be pencilled into the margins.
▪ My Spanish teacher will point out errors, but we have to make the corrections ourselves.
▷ set somebody straight also put somebody straight British /ˌset somebody ˈstreɪt, ˌpʊt somebody ˈstreɪt/ [verb phrase]
to tell someone the true facts when they have made a mistake, especially if you are annoyed by their mistake :
▪ She quickly set me straight, saying that while she enjoys her job, she works mainly for the money.
▪ Your friends are always ready to put you straight when you do something stupid.
set sb straight about
▪ It’s time to set people straight about why he was fired - he didn’t act in a professional manner.
▷ set the record straight also put the record straight British /ˌset ðə ˈrekɔːd streɪt, ˌpʊt ðə ˈrekɔːd streɪtǁ-kərd-/ [verb phrase]
to tell people the true facts about something, especially in public, because you want to make it very clear that what is believed is in fact not correct :
▪ It’s time we put the record straight. The newspapers are wrong -- this factory will not be closing down.
▪ Paulson, wanting to set the record straight, called a press conference.
6. when it is right or reasonable to do something
▷ right /raɪt/ [adjective]
use this to talk about what someone has done or may do, to say that you agree with it because it seems fair or reasonable :
right to do something
▪ You were right to complain - the food was cold.
▪ The screenwriter was right to focus on just one aspect of a long and complicated novel.
the right thing to do
▪ I took a pay cut to come here, but I’m sure it was the right thing to do.
do the right thing
▪ Do the right thing - turn off the TV and get the kids playing outside.
▷ justified /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪd, ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/ [adjective not usually before noun]
if you say that someone is justified in doing something, or that something they do is justified, you believe what they do is reasonable in that situation :
▪ I don’t think Colin’s criticisms were really justified.
be/feel justified in doing something
▪ The government feels justified in using military force to protect its own citizens.
▪ The landlord may be justified in charging for any additional work that needs to be done.
▷ reasonable /ˈriːz ə nəb ə l/ [adjective]
if an action is reasonable, it is fair and sensible :
▪ Campaigners say that there is no reasonable objection to women becoming priests.
it is reasonable to do something
▪ It is reasonable to expect members to pay a small fee.
▪ It is reasonable to assume watching a lot of television at an early age interferes with development.
it is reasonable that
▪ It is reasonable that a prospective employer should want to know if someone has a criminal record.
reasonably [adverb]
▪ Alison can’t reasonably be expected to do the work of two people.
▷ I don’t blame somebody /aɪ ˌdəʊnt ˈbleɪm somebody/ spoken informal
say this when you can understand why someone has behaved in a particular way, and you think they were right :
▪ ‘Sheila’s left her husband.’ ‘Well, I don’t blame her!’
I don’t blame sb for (doing) something
▪ I don’t blame you for losing your temper with Ann.
▪ It may have been a joke, but you can’t blame the women in the department for being angry.
▷ justifiable /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪəb ə l, ˈdʒʌstəfaɪəb ə l/ [adjective]
a justifiable feeling, action, or reaction is acceptable because there is a good reason for it :
▪ Can violence ever be a justifiable method of protest?
▪ Reed said the tax increases were not only justifiable, but unavoidable.
▪ Is football a justifiable expense when the college cannot afford enough English classes to meet students’ needs?
justifiably [adverb]
▪ The company can justifiably claim that it has met all its obligations.
▷ legitimate /lɪˈdʒɪtəmət, ləˈdʒɪtəmət/ [adjective]
fair, correct, or reasonable according to accepted rules, facts, or standards of behaviour :
▪ He had a legitimate reason for being late.
▪ The way governments treat their people is a legitimate concern for the international community.
it is legitimate to do something
▪ It is legitimate to suggest that taxes should affect people with higher incomes more than they affect poorer people.
legitimately [adverb]
▪ You could legitimately argue that the best way to bring down pollution levels is to ban cars completely.
7. to have a good reason for thinking or doing something
▷ have a right to be scared/proud/happy etc /hæv ə ˈraɪt tə biː ˌskeəʳd/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to have a good reason to behave in a particular way, especially in a way that you would not normally behave, or in a way that other people would usually disapprove of :
▪ She’s just got her exam results; she has the right to be proud of herself.
▪ The problems are genuine and people have the right to be concerned.
have every right to be something
have a very good reason to feel something
▪ After what happened last time we bought a car, I think we have every right to be wary.
▷ justly /ˈdʒʌstli/ [adverb]
if you are justly proud, angry, critical etc, you have a good reason for feeling this way or reacting in this way :
▪ The Chinese are justly proud of their ancient culture.
▪ The press has been justly critical of the delays in paying compensation.
▪ Bordeaux is an area of France justly famous for its red wine.
▷ good cause/reason /ˌgʊd ˈkɔːz, ˈriːz ə n/ [adverb]
if someone does something, feels something, or thinks something with good cause or good reason, they have a good reason for what they do or think or feel :
have good cause/reason to do something
▪ The coach, watching his team, feels he has good reason to expect them to win.
for good cause/reason
▪ The company has been held up as a model employer, and for good reason. They have a good training program and excellent benefits.
with good cause/reason
▪ She is a jealous wife, and with good cause.
▷ rightly /ˈraɪtli/ [adverb] formal
if someone says or does something rightly, they are right and have good reasons to say it or do it :
▪ The U.S. is rightly cautious about becoming involved.
▪ Taxpayers rightly expect the government to be careful about spending.
rightly so
▪ Residents are outraged, and rightly so.
quite rightly
▪ Investors have quite rightly avoided this stock.
8. to show that something is right to do
▷ justify /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ, ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/ [transitive verb]
to explain or show that there are good reasons for doing something that seems wrong to most people :
▪ How can you justify a 200% pay rise!
▪ People try to justify the breakdown of their marriage by blaming their spouse.
justify doing something
▪ I don’t think anyone can justify spending so much money on weapons.
9. a legal or official right
▷ right /raɪt/ [singular noun]
when you should be able to have or do something, according to the law or according to moral ideas :
▪ Free speech is a basic right in a democratic society.
right to
▪ I disagree, but I respect his right to his opinion.
the right to do something
▪ Women all over the world fought long and hard for the right to vote.
have the right to something
▪ Everyone the right to a good basic education.
the right of veto/action/self-determination/free speech etc
▪ The executive council has the right of veto over the management’s policy.
▷ freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ [uncountable noun]
the right to do, say, think, or write something without being controlled or stopped by anyone :
freedom of
▪ No democracy can exist without freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
freedom to do something
▪ This change in the law will give parents more freedom to influence their children’s education.
political/religious etc freedom
▪ The leaders of the demonstration made speeches demanding greater political freedom.
▷ entitlement /ɪnˈtaɪtlmənt/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the official right to have or receive something, especially money, that you get from a government or an employer :
▪ Many people are still not aware of the entitlements they may be able to receive.
entitlement to
▪ The amount of money you earn does not affect your entitlement to child benefit for your children.
holiday/pension etc entitlement
▪ Holiday entitlements for temporary workers are less than for permanent staff.
▷ claim /kleɪm/ [countable noun]
the right to have or be given something because you were its original owner, or because you have a moral right to it :
claim to
▪ No one can dispute the Mohawks’ claim to this land.
▪ His claim to the house was finally recognized by the court.
▷ rights /raɪts/ [plural noun]
the legal control or possession of something such as a product, a book, an idea etc :
▪ Elliott liked the book and bought the rights, planning to make it into a miniseries.
rights to
▪ This is the publishing company which brought the rights to Somerset Maugham’s short stories.
▪ ABC has exclusive rights to television coverage of the Olympics.
▷ by right /baɪ ˈraɪt/ [adverb]
if something is yours by right, you have a moral right to have it or be given it :
▪ He believes that he is entitled by right to inherit from his father, despite his father’s will.
▪ Developers were met by angry locals protesting that the land was theirs by right.
10. the political and social rights that everyone should have
▷ rights /raɪts/ [plural noun]
the political and social freedom that everyone in a country should have :
▪ Every individual should have basic rights.
rights of
▪ Some motorcyclists saw the helmet law as an infringement on the rights of the individual.
women’s/workers’/victims’ etc rights
▪ Laws enacted in the past ten years have gradually taken away workers’ rights.
▪ Allred is an attorney who has gained a national reputation fighting for women’s rights.
▷ civil rights /ˌsɪv ə l ˈraɪts/ [plural noun]
the rights that every person should have, such as the right to vote or be treated equally and fairly by the law, whatever their sex, race, or religion :
▪ She had been actively involved in the struggle for civil rights in the US in the '60s.
▪ The President has agreed to talks with civil rights campaigners.
▪ The civil rights movement illustrates how people can change the constitution of their country.
▷ human rights /ˌhjuːmən ˈraɪts/ [plural noun]
the basic right that all people should have, including freedom and the right to be treated fairly and without cruelty by their government :
▪ The Court ruled that hitting children was an abuse of human rights.
▪ A number of leading human rights activists were arrested yesterday.
▪ The regime has a long record of human rights violations.
▷ equal rights /ˌiːkwəl ˈraɪts/ [plural noun]
the rights of every person to be treated fairly and equally by the law or by society, whatever their sex, race, religion, or social position :
▪ The battle for equal rights for women is not yet over.
▪ The Americans were the first to make law the principle of equal rights for every individual.
▪ Homosexual men and women are campaigning for equal rights.
▷ equal opportunities /ˌiːkwəl ɒpəˈtjuːnə̇tizǁ-ɑːpərˈtuː-/ [plural noun]
the right of every person to have a chance to get a job, go to university etc, whatever their sex, race, or social position :
▪ Only in a completely classless society can there be equal opportunities for everyone.
equal opportunities legislation/programs etc
▪ Certain jobs were dominated by men until the equal opportunities legislation of the 1970s.
▷ civil liberties /ˌsɪv ə l ˈlɪbəʳtiz/ [plural noun]
the rights of any citizen to do whatever they want as long as they respect the rights of other people, without having to ask anyone’s permission, and the right to keep their personal information private :
▪ The banning of public meetings was held to be a denial of civil liberties.
▪ The ability of this software to gather information about individuals through the Web is worrying to civil liberties groups.
11. a special right belonging to one person or group
▷ privilege /ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ, ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ/ [countable noun]
a special right or advantage given to a person or group, because of their high social position, because they are a member of a club etc :
▪ A good education should not just be a privilege of the rich.
give somebody a privilege
▪ Why should famous people be given special privileges?
lose a privilege
▪ If the chores aren’t done by the time the timer goes off, the kids lose privileges such as TV time.
the privilege of doing something
▪ If prisoners behave well they are allowed the privilege of visiting their families at the weekend.
privileged [adjective]
▪ Only privileged club members those who have privileges can sit in the Royal Pavilion to watch matches.
▷ prerogative /prɪˈrɒgətɪvǁ-ˈrɑː-/ [countable noun] formal
a special right that only a particular person or group has because of their importance or position :
▪ In the old days, a university education was the prerogative of the rich.
prerogative to do something
▪ The governor has the prerogative to free prisoners.
▷ birthright /ˈbɜːʳθraɪt/ [singular noun]
a right that you should have because you have been born into a particular family, country, class etc :
▪ The President ended his speech by saying ‘Dignity and self-respect are the birthright of every American citizen.’
▪ She seemed to regard an easy, comfortable life as some kind of birthright.
12. to have or give someone a legal right
▷ have the right /ˌhæv ðə ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to be legally or officially allowed to do or have something :
have the right to do something
▪ People should have a right to know what is on their credit history.
▪ We have a constitutional right to defend ourselves, our family, and our property.
have the right to
▪ Olivia felt she had a right to information about her illness.
▷ be entitled to /biː ɪnˈtaɪtld tuː/ [verb phrase] formal
to be legally allowed to have something or do something :
▪ The public is entitled to information about how public money is spent.
be entitled to do something
▪ You are legally entitled to take faulty goods back to the store where you bought them.
▪ Your landlord is not entitled to charge you for the remainder of the month’s rent.
▷ give somebody the right /ˌgɪv somebody ðə ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase]
to legally or officially allow someone to do or have something :
give sb the right to
▪ This government programme gives families on low incomes the right to extra financial help.
give sb the right to do something
▪ The new regulations give dissatisfied customers the right to receive a full refund.
▷ entitle /ɪnˈtaɪtl/ [transitive verb] formal
to legally or officially allow someone to do or have something :
entitle somebody to something
▪ Being a member entitles you to discounts on tickets.
entitle somebody to do something
▪ Ethiopian Jews were entitled to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return.
▷ be within your rights /biː wɪðˌɪn jɔːʳ ˈraɪts/ [verb phrase]
to have a legal right to do something, although it may seem unfair or unreasonable :
▪ If Mrs Cobb wanted to take the company to court for unfair dismissal, she’d be within her rights.
be within your rights to do something
▪ If your actions have disturbed other tenants, your landlady is within her rights to give you notice to stop the actions or leave.