straighten
STRAYTN
Straighten (verb) means to make something straight, or to become straight. Example: “He straightened the crooked picture frame on the wall.”
verb
1
To make something straight, or to become straight.
"He straightened the crooked picture frame on the wall."
"The road straightens out after the next bend."
2
To put something in order or tidy it up.
"Can you straighten the living room before guests arrive?"
How to use straighten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make crooked things straight, or to tidy up a messy situation.
Common pairings
straighten out
straighten up
straighten a room
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- straightens
- Past tense
- straightened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ the crooked picture frame on the wall.
Etymology
Formed from "straight" plus the verb-forming suffix "-en."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for straighten
See all rhymes for straighten →Frequently asked questions
What does “straighten” mean?
The word “straighten” means to make something straight, or to become straight. In plain terms, to make crooked things straight, or to tidy up a messy situation.
How do you pronounce “straighten”?
“Straighten” is pronounced STRAYTN (/ˈstɹeɪtn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “straighten” in a sentence?
Here is “straighten” used in a sentence: “He straightened the crooked picture frame on the wall.”
What part of speech is “straighten”?
“Straighten” is a verb.
Is “straighten” a common word?
“Straighten” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “straighten” have?
“Straighten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something straight, or to become straight.
