rightly
RYT-lee
Rightly (adv) means Correctly or justifiably. Example: “She rightly pointed out the flaw in the plan.”
adv
1
Correctly or justifiably.
"I don't rightly know what he meant by that remark."
"Virtue is not just about acting rightly but about feeling rightly."
— Nikhil Krishnan, Aristotle’s Rules for Living Well (2023)
"She was quite rightly disappointed in not being promoted."
"She rightly pointed out the flaw in the plan."
"He was rightly proud of the garden he had built himself."
"The referee rightly sent the player off for the dangerous tackle."
How to use rightly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a correct or justified way.
Common pairings
rightly or wrongly
rightly point out
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Word forms
- Comparative
- rightlier, more rightly
- Superlative
- rightliest, most rightly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ pointed out the flaw in the plan.
Etymology
From Old English rihtlīċe, formed from right plus -ly.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for rightly
See all rhymes for rightly →Frequently asked questions
What does “rightly” mean?
The word “rightly” means correctly or justifiably. In plain terms, in a correct or justified way.
How do you pronounce “rightly”?
“Rightly” is pronounced RYT-lee (/ˈɹaɪtli/ in IPA).
How do you use “rightly” in a sentence?
Here is “rightly” used in a sentence: “She rightly pointed out the flaw in the plan.”
What part of speech is “rightly”?
“Rightly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “rightly” come from?
The word “rightly” comes from Old English. From Old English rihtlīċe, formed from right plus -ly.
Is “rightly” a common word?
“Rightly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between rightly and right as adverbs?
Rightly means correctly or justifiably and typically modifies an entire statement or action, as in "she was rightly praised." Right has other adverbial uses too, such as indicating direction or immediacy, that rightly does not share.
Where does rightly usually go in a sentence?
Rightly commonly appears directly before the verb it modifies, as in "he rightly assumed" or "they were rightly concerned." It can also appear at the start of a sentence to comment on the whole statement, as in "rightly or wrongly, she refused."
What is the difference between rightly and correctly?
Both mean roughly the same thing, but rightly often carries a sense of justification or fairness, not just factual accuracy, as in "they rightly objected." Correctly focuses more narrowly on being factually or procedurally accurate.
