rightlyright‧ly /ˈraɪtli/ ●●○ adverb 
I was, as you rightly said, the smallest boy in the class. As you so rightly pointed out, things are getting worse. They have been treated badly, and they are rightly upset.quite rightly British English There’s a lot of talk, quite rightly, about the dangers of smoking. This photo was taken in Paris, if I remember rightly.2rightly or wrongly used to emphasize that someone else thinks that something they did was right, but you think it was wrong: The prime minister was widely judged, rightly or wrongly, to be an honest man.3and rightly so spoken used to say that a decision or action you have just described is fair and morally right, in your opinion: A lot of people round here were furious, and rightly so.4I can’t rightly say/don’t rightly know spoken used to say that you are not sure whether something is correct or not
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Rightly or wrongly, many employees feel pushed to work longer hours.
- As he rightly pointed out, there is no real evidence that the president acted improperly.
- Buller's actions have been rightly criticized as ineffective.
- Doctorow's "Billy Bathgate" novel has been rightly hailed as an American classic.
- Investors have quite rightly avoided this stock.
- Residents are outraged, and rightly so.
- Taxpayers rightly expect the government to be careful about spending.
- The U.S. is rightly cautious about becoming involved.
- Voters are rightly concerned about paying higher taxes.
- Many organizations see this as a blind leap of faith, and rightly so.
- Students will rightly object that a model in which income is received in bonds is hardly realistic.
- The United States has rightly stated that those flights are justified and will continue.
- They are drastic pieces of legislation which should rightly occupy a large part of the time of the House.
- Users rightly expect the same standard of packaging as is found with other resources such as books and audiovisual material.
- When such replication and variation is found we may rightly ask, what were the factors controlling the results?
- Yes, when it comes to social events, the Athletico Supporters' Club can feel rightly proud.
Longman Language Activatorin the correct way
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.
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.
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.
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.
to have a good reason for thinking or doing something 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.
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.
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.
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.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I was, as you rightly said, the smallest boy in the class. As you so rightly pointed out, things are getting worse. This photo was taken in Paris, if I remember rightly.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
I was, as you rightly said, the smallest boy in the class. As you so rightly pointed out, things are getting worse. British English There’s a lot of talk, quite rightly, about the dangers of smoking.
There’s a lot of talk, quite rightly, about the dangers of smoking. This photo was taken in Paris, if I remember rightly.· This hotel can rightly claim that it has some of the best views on the island.
(=with good reason)· The public rightly expects government officials to be honest.
(=with good reason)· He is justifiably proud of what he and his father achieved.
· You were still at school, if I remember rightly.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· The band has recently taken delivery of a splendid new uniform which the members are rightly proud of.· That is a major advance in the concept of public service of which the Government are rightly proud.· Yes, when it comes to social events, the Athletico Supporters' Club can feel rightly proud.
VERB· The Blackpool Tramway is rightly claimed as the first and last street tramway and unique in many other ways.
· General Norman Schwarzkopf rightly describes the military value of these missiles as negligible.· These are rightly described as pressure-points in the lives of women.
· When they can't, they rightly expect that the country they pay into will help them out.· Users rightly expect the same standard of packaging as is found with other resources such as books and audiovisual material.
· But it is the people of Bishop Auckland who can rightly feel proud that they were the prime movers.· Curriculum managers reading this discussion may rightly feel that this magisterial balance has rather little to offer to their own pressing concerns.· Yes, when it comes to social events, the Athletico Supporters' Club can feel rightly proud.· Editors rightly feel strongly about scientific fraud.· They may rightly feel that it is all really rather appalling.· He rightly felt that he did it well.
· And nice houses, if I remember rightly.· There was a cloakroom too, if she remembered rightly, with a nice rosy brick floor that really paid for doing.· As a matter o' fact we sat on this very seat, an' if I remember rightly, I stole a kiss.· We thought you'd like this one, taken in Sliema, beside a pub, if I remember rightly.
· He rightly said that passenger facilities were absolutely appalling, especially the absence of adequate public lavatories.· The president has rightly said that the bill will likely die if delayed, as has happened so often in the past.· Mention this to most clergymen and they will rightly say that spiritual development is far more important than a degree.· As you rightly say, your feelings may change.
· People will rightly see this as money badly raised and badly spent, futile frittering of fortunes to virtually zero electoral effect.· In the collaborative meritocracy, people who are talented enough and committed enough are rightly seen as indispensable.· That was rightly seen as a ludicrously intransigent position.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► I can’t rightly say/don’t rightly know
- Rightly or wrongly, most employees regard annual raises as just cost-of-living increases.
- But, rightly or wrongly, Eden's tenure in Downing Street is remembered as a single-issue premiership.
- His unexpected presence may be interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as a deed deliberately intended to express his courage or defiance.
- Many men believed, whether rightly or wrongly, that the locals could find out about operations before they themselves did.
- Other people concluded, rightly or wrongly, that the problems were limited to vaccine coming from Cutter.
- We were blamed, and rightly so, for this mess.
- For the most part, criteria of critical reasoning are internal to disciplines or professional fields, and rightly so.
- It will undoubtedly be one for public debate, and rightly so.
- Many organizations see this as a blind leap of faith, and rightly so.
- Such an arrangement would probably be considered out of the question today, and rightly so.
- Symphony No. 88 has always been a favourite and rightly so, as well as the Oxford, helped by its nickname.
- The Bolshevik reputation stood high, and rightly so, for at least they acknowledged the question and officially embraced national independence.
- The reaction to arguments from silence is usually noisy vituperation, and rightly so.
- The White House would not put the president in that position again and rightly so.
WORD FAMILYadverbrightrightlyrightfullyrigheouslyrighteousnessnounrightrightnessrightsrighteousnessadjectiverightrighteousrightfulverbright
1correctly, or for a good reason OPP wrongly: I was, as you rightly said, the smallest boy in the class. As you so rightly pointed out, things are getting worse. They have been treated badly, and they are rightly upset.quite rightly British English There’s a lot of talk, quite rightly, about the dangers of smoking. This photo was taken in Paris, if I remember rightly.2rightly or wrongly used to emphasize that someone else thinks that something they did was right, but you think it was wrong: The prime minister was widely judged, rightly or wrongly, to be an honest man.3and rightly so spoken used to say that a decision or action you have just described is fair and morally right, in your opinion: A lot of people round here were furious, and rightly so.4I can’t rightly say/don’t rightly know spoken used to say that you are not sure whether something is correct or not