OK
oh-KAY
OK (adj) means All right; acceptable, permitted, or satisfactory. Example: “Is it OK if I leave early today?”
adj
1
All right; acceptable, permitted, or satisfactory.
"Is it OK if I leave early today?"
"The food was OK, nothing special."
2
In good health or emotional shape; not upset or hurt.
"Are you OK after that fall?"
"I'm OK, just a bit tired."
verb
1
To approve or give the go-ahead for something.
"My manager okayed the extra spending."
"The plan still needs to be OK'd by legal."
intj
1
Used to show agreement, acknowledgement, or acceptance.
""Meet me at six." "OK, see you then.""
noun
1
Approval or agreement; the act of confirming something is fine to proceed.
"I just need your OK before we ship it."
How to use OK
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA catch-all word for "fine," "acceptable," or "yes, agreed" — one of the most widely recognized words in the world.
When to use it
Very informal/neutral; fine in speech and casual writing, but "acceptable" or "approved" reads better in formal documents.
Common pairings
it's OK
OK with me
give the OK
OK, so...
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Word forms
- Plural
- OKs, OK's
- Third person singular
- OKs, OK's
- Past tense
- OKed, OK'd, OK'ed
- Comparative
- more OK, OKer
- Superlative
- most OK, OKest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Is it _____ if I leave early today?
Etymology
Its exact origin is debated, but the most widely accepted story traces it to a 1839 Boston newspaper fad for joke misspellings — "oll korrect" for "all correct" — abbreviated to OK, which then got a huge popularity boost from Martin Van Buren's 1840 presidential campaign (his nickname was "Old Kinderhook").
Class of 1839
OK joined the language around 1839.
See the full Class of 1839 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “OK” mean?
The word “OK” means all right; acceptable, permitted, or satisfactory. In plain terms, a catch-all word for "fine," "acceptable," or "yes, agreed" — one of the most widely recognized words in the world.
How do you pronounce “OK”?
“OK” is pronounced oh-KAY (/ˌoʊˈkeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “OK” in a sentence?
Here is “OK” used in a sentence: “Is it OK if I leave early today?”
What is the opposite of “OK”?
The opposite of “OK” — its antonyms — are NG, bad, forbidden, inadequate and poor.
What part of speech is “OK”?
Depending on how it is used, “OK” can be an adjective, a verb, an intj and a noun.
Where does the word “OK” come from?
The word “OK” dates back to around 1839.
Is “OK” a common word?
“OK” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “OK” have?
“OK” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: all right; acceptable, permitted, or satisfactory.
What is the difference between OK and okay?
They are the same word, simply spelled differently. "OK" is the original form, dating to 1830s American English, while "okay" is a later respelling that looks more like a conventional word. Both are correct and mean acceptable or all right. "Okay" can feel slightly more formal on the page, but the two are fully interchangeable.
Is OK formal or informal?
OK sits between informal and neutral. It is fine in conversation, emails, and most everyday writing, but in formal or academic prose editors usually prefer clearer words like acceptable, satisfactory, or adequate. As an adjective it also carries a mild, unenthusiastic tone: something OK is fine, but rarely impressive or excellent.
Does OK mean good or just acceptable?
OK usually means merely acceptable rather than genuinely good. It signals that something meets a minimum standard without being impressive. Calling a meal "OK" is faint praise, marking it satisfactory but unremarkable. Warm tone or extra words can lift it, but on its own OK sits between poor and good.
What can I say instead of OK?
For the adjective sense you can use fine, all right, acceptable, satisfactory, or adequate. For agreeing to something, sure, yes, or sounds good all work. Choosing a more specific word often sharpens your writing, since OK is deliberately vague and leaves the exact degree of approval unstated.
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