straight

adjective

UK /streɪt/

Word Forms

adjective	straight
comparative	straighter
superlative	straightest

1
something that is straight does not bend or curve
Draw a straight line.
a straight road
a perfectly straight path
Synonyms and related words
Describing and relating to lines
continuous
convergent
diagonal
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe the shape of objects
aerodynamic
angular
as flat as a pancake
1. 1a
  straight hair has no curls or waves
  straight brown hair
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe the state of people’s hair
  bad hair day
  bald
  balding
2. 1b
  a straight skirt, pair of trousers etc hangs down close to your body
  Rosie wore a long straight skirt and a long-sleeved jumper.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe clothes
  A-line
  backless
  baggy
2
in the correct position and not leaning to one side or the other
The picture on that wall isn’t straight.
Make sure you keep your back straight.
Synonyms and related words
Straight, upright and level
straight
upright
level
3
honest and true
straight answer:
He wouldn’t give me a straight answer.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe honest and sincere people and behaviour
honest
sincere
fine
4
only before nounhappening one after the other, without interruption
The champion was defeated in straight sets.
their sixth straight win/loss
four straight games/matches
There were five straight days of exams.
Synonyms and related words
Continuing without stopping
continuous
forever
permanent
Synonyms and related words
One after another
one after another
successive
consecutive
1. 4a
  a student who has straight A’s has the highest mark in every subject or course
  She got straight A’s this term.
  a straight-A student
  Synonyms and related words
  Grades and marks given for school or university work
  A
  A minus/B minus/C minus/D minus
  A plus/B plus/C plus/D plus
5
a straight actor or entertainer is one who only performs serious parts
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe performers or performances
all-star
bankable
blinder
1. 5a
  straight entertainment is serious and not humorous
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
6
clean and tidy
get/make something straight:
I’ll never get the house straight before my parents get home.
Synonyms and related words
Clean
clean
sterile
immaculate
7
an alcoholic drink that is straight is not mixed with anything else
a straight whisky
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe drinks
alcoholic
black
carbonated
8
informalsomeone who is straight is normal and ordinary but slightly boring
Synonyms and related words
Ordinary and normal
BAU
identikit
normal
1. 8a
  very informalsomeone who is straight does not use illegal drugs
  Synonyms and related words
  Not drinking alcohol and not drunk or using drugs
  sober
  temperance
  teetotal
2. 8b
  very informalsomeone who is straight is not a criminal
  Synonyms and related words
  Legal and honest
  legal
  innocent
  clean
9
informalsomeone who is straight is sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex
Synonyms and related words
General words for sexual orientation
bi
bisexual
bisexual
10
if two people are straight, neither of them owes the other any money
If I give you £10, then we’re straight.
Synonyms and related words
Not in debt
afloat
be even
solvency
11
only before nouna straight choice or competition is one in which there are only two choices or only two people who have any chance of winning
The election is going to be a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives.
Synonyms and related words
Describing and relating to choices and choosing
beggars can’t be choosers
chosen
either...or (...or)

phrases

be as straight as a die

be straight with someone

get something straight

have your facts straight

set/put someone straight

straight face

straight talking

straight up

straight

adjective

US /streɪt/

Word Forms

adjective	straight
comparative	straighter
superlative	straightest

1
something that is straight does not bend or curve
Draw a straight line.
a straight road
a perfectly straight path
Synonyms and related words
Describing and relating to lines
continuous
convergent
diagonal
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe the shape of objects
aerodynamic
angular
as flat as a pancake
1. 1a
  straight hair has no curls or waves
  straight brown hair
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe the state of people’s hair
  bad hair day
  bald
  balding
2. 1b
  a straight skirt, pair of pants, etc. hangs down close to your body
  Rosie wore a long straight skirt and a long-sleeved sweater.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe clothes
  A-line
  backless
  baggy
2
in the correct position and not leaning to one side or the other
The picture on that wall isn’t straight.
Make sure you keep your back straight.
Synonyms and related words
Straight, upright and level
straight
upright
level
3
honest and true
straight answer:
He wouldn’t give me a straight answer.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe honest and sincere people and behavior
honest
sincere
fine
4
only before nounhappening one after the other, without interruption
Seattle beat Texas for the seventh straight time.
their sixth straight win/loss
four straight games/matches
There were five straight days of rain.
Synonyms and related words
Continuing without stopping
continuous
forever
permanent
Synonyms and related words
One after another
one after another
successive
consecutive
1. 4a
  a student who has straight A’s has the highest mark in every subject or class
  She got straight A’s this term.
  a straight-A student
  Synonyms and related words
  Grades and marks given for school or university work
  A
  A minus/B minus/C minus/D minus
  a passing grade/mark
5
a straight actor or entertainer is one who only performs serious parts
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe performers or performances
all-star
bankable
blinder
1. 5a
  straight entertainment is serious and not humorous
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
6
Americanused for saying that someone votes only for the members of one particular political party
Most of my neighbors vote straight Republican.
Synonyms and related words
Elections and relating to the electoral system
advance poll
alternative vote
AV
7
a drink that is straight is not mixed with anything else
The bottled lemon juice can be used straight or mixed with water and sugar to make lemonade.
a straight whiskey
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe drinks
alcoholic
black
carbonated
8
informalsomeone who is straight is normal and ordinary but slightly boring
Synonyms and related words
Ordinary and normal
BAU
identikit
normal
1. 8a
  very informalsomeone who is straight does not use illegal drugs
  Synonyms and related words
  Not drinking alcohol and not drunk or using drugs
  sober
  teetotal
  not touch a drop
2. 8b
  very informalsomeone who is straight is not a criminal
  Synonyms and related words
  Legal and honest
  legal
  innocent
  clean
9
informalsomeone who is straight is sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex
Synonyms and related words
General words for sexual orientation
bi
bisexual
bisexual
10
if two people are straight, neither of them owes the other any money
If I give you $10, then we’re straight.
Synonyms and related words
Not in debt
afloat
be even
solvency
11
clean and neat
Is your room straight?
Synonyms and related words
Clean
clean
sterile
immaculate
12
only before nouna straight choice or competition is one in which there are only two choices or only two people who have any chance of winning
Synonyms and related words
Describing and relating to choices and choosing
alternate
beggars can’t be choosers
chosen

phrases

be as straight as a die

be straight with someone

get something straight

have your facts straight

set/put someone straight

straight face

straight talking

straight ticket

straight up

straight

adverb

UK /streɪt/

Word Forms

comparative	straighter
superlative	straightest

1
without a bend or curve
Continue straight on for about 20 yards then turn left.
Sue always looks you straight in the eye when she’s talking to you.
He stared straight ahead.
The car was coming straight at me.
dead straight (=completely straight):
It flew dead straight through the air.
Synonyms and related words
Describing and relating to lines
continuous
convergent
diagonal
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe the shape of objects
aerodynamic
angular
as flat as a pancake
2
directly and immediately
We decided to go straight home.
We put the children straight to bed.
I decided I’d leave straight after breakfast.
come straight to the point:
I’ll come straight to the point (=say immediately what I want to say).
Synonyms and related words
Happening or done quickly, suddenly or immediately
suddenly
immediately
at once
3
in an upright position and not leaning to one side or the other
Sit up straight.
Synonyms and related words
Straight, upright and level
straight
upright
level
4
informalin an honest way
tell someone straight (out):
I’m going to tell you straight.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe honest and sincere people and behaviour
honest
sincere
fine
5
happening for a particular period of time, without interruption
We drove for five hours straight.
Synonyms and related words
Continuing without stopping
continuous
forever
permanent

phrases

cannot see/think straight

go straight

straight from the horse’s mouth

straight out

straight out of something

straight to someone’s face

straight up

straight

adverb

US /streɪt/

Word Forms

comparative	straighter
superlative	straightest

1
without a bend or curve
Continue straight for about 20 yards then turn left.
Sue always looks you straight in the eye when she’s talking to you.
He stared straight ahead.
The car was coming straight at me.
dead straight (=completely straight):
It flew dead straight through the air.
Synonyms and related words
Describing and relating to lines
continuous
convergent
diagonal
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe the shape of objects
aerodynamic
angular
as flat as a pancake
2
directly and immediately
We decided to go straight home.
We put the children straight to bed.
I decided I’d leave straight after breakfast.
come/get straight to the point:
I’ll get straight to the point (=say immediately what I want to say).
Synonyms and related words
Happening or done quickly, suddenly or immediately
suddenly
at once
straight away
3
in an upright position and not leaning to one side or the other
Sit up straight.
Synonyms and related words
Straight, upright and level
straight
upright
level
4
informalin an honest way
tell someone straight (out):
I’m going to tell you straight.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe honest and sincere people and behavior
honest
sincere
fine
5
happening for a particular period of time, without interruption
We drove for five hours straight.
Synonyms and related words
Continuing without stopping
continuous
forever
permanent

phrases

cannot see/think straight

go straight

straight from the horse’s mouth

straight out

straight out of something

straight to someone’s face

straight up

straight

noun

UK /streɪt/

Word Forms

singular	straight
plural	straights

1
countable informalsomeone who is normal and ordinary but slightly boring
Synonyms and related words
People who are old-fashioned or do not like change
a broken record
anorak
bogan
2
countable informalsomeone who is attracted to people of the opposite sex
Synonyms and related words
General words for sexual orientation
bi
bisexual
bisexual
3
singular a straight part of a race track
Synonyms and related words
Race tracks and parts of race tracks
circuit
course
inside lane
4
countable five cards with numbers that come one after the other in order, in the game of poker
Synonyms and related words
Relating to card games
bid
call
cards

phrases

the straight and narrow

straight

noun

US /streɪt/

Word Forms

singular	straight
plural	straights

1
countable informalsomeone who is normal and ordinary but slightly boring
Synonyms and related words
People who are old-fashioned or do not like change
a broken record
anorak
bore
2
countable five cards with numbers that come one after the other in order, in the game of poker
Synonyms and related words
Relating to card games
bid
call
cards
3
countable informalsomeone who is attracted to people of the opposite sex
Synonyms and related words
General words for sexual orientation
bi
bisexual
bisexual
4
mainly Britisha straightaway
Synonyms and related words
Race tracks and parts of race tracks
circuit
course
the home stretch

phrases

the straight and narrow

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