straight
strayt
Straight (adjective) means extending in one direction without bending or curving. Example: “The road ran straight across the flat fields for miles.”
adjective
1
Extending in one direction without bending or curving.
"The road ran straight across the flat fields for miles."
"Draw a straight line from one corner to the other."
"Her hair is naturally straight."
2
Honest, direct, and free of trickery.
"I like her because she's always straight with me, even when the truth is awkward."
"Give me a straight answer, not another excuse."
"He has always been straight with his business partners."
3
Heterosexual.
"The club welcomes everyone, whether they are gay, straight or somewhere in between."
"He joked that most of his straight friends had never been to a pride parade."
"She came out to her straight friends first."
4
Following one after another without a break; consecutive.
"It rained for three straight days, and the river finally burst its banks."
"She studied for six straight hours without stopping for lunch."
"The team has won five straight games."
adverb
1
Directly, without any detour or delay.
"Walk straight ahead until you see the post office on your left."
"He went straight home after the shift ended."
"Just tell me straight what happened."
noun
1
In poker, five cards of consecutive rank.
"I hoped for a flush, but my cousin beat me with a straight."
"He had a straight on the table, but someone else held a better hand."
"She won the hand with a straight, ten through ace."
How to use straight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot bent or curved; also used for honesty, directness, heterosexuality, and unbroken runs or sequences.
Memory tip
Don't confuse with "strait," a narrow passage of water — they sound identical but mean different things.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
straight line
go straight
straight answer
straight face
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Word forms
- Plural
- straights
- Third person singular
- straights
- Past tense
- straighted
- Comparative
- straighter, more straight
- Superlative
- straightest, most straight
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The road ran _____ across the flat fields for miles.
Etymology
From Middle English "streight," the past participle of "strecchen" ("to stretch") — straight originally meant "stretched out."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “straight” mean?
The word “straight” means extending in one direction without bending or curving. In plain terms, not bent or curved; also used for honesty, directness, heterosexuality, and unbroken runs or sequences.
How do you pronounce “straight”?
“Straight” is pronounced strayt (/stɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “straight” in a sentence?
Here is “straight” used in a sentence: “Draw a straight line from one corner to the other.”
What is the opposite of “straight”?
The opposite of “straight” — its antonyms — are bent, crooked and curved.
What part of speech is “straight”?
Depending on how it is used, “straight” can be an adjective, an adverb and a noun.
Where does the word “straight” come from?
The word “straight” comes from Middle English. From Middle English "streight," the past participle of "strecchen" ("to stretch") — straight originally meant "stretched out.".
Is “straight” a common word?
“Straight” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “straight” have?
“Straight” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extending in one direction without bending or curving.
What is the difference between straight and strait?
They sound alike but differ in meaning and grammar. 'Straight' is usually an adjective meaning without bends or curves, as in a straight road. 'Strait' is a noun for a narrow channel of water linking two seas, and 'dire straits' means serious difficulty. If you mean 'not curved,' use straight.
What is the opposite of straight?
For the geometric sense, the main opposites are curved, bent, crooked, and winding, each describing a line that changes direction. 'Twisting' or 'wavy' suit a path that turns repeatedly. All contrast with the idea of extending in a single, unbroken direction without deviation.
Does 'straight' have other meanings?
Yes, several. Beyond 'not curved,' it can mean honest and direct ('a straight answer'), consecutive ('three straight wins'), undiluted ('a straight whisky'), or simply tidy and level. Context shows which sense applies, but the core image of something direct and without deviation runs through them all.
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