alright

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From all +‎ right. Compare Old English eallriht (“all-right, just, exactly”), equivalent to al- (“all”) +‎ right.

Pronunciation

Adjective

alright (not comparable)

  1. Nonstandard form of all right.[1][2] Satisfactory; okay; in acceptable order.
    • 1662 : Cantus, songs and fancies, to three, four, or five parts, both apt for voices and viols : with a brief introduction to musick, as is taught by Thomas Davidson, in the Musick-School of Aberdene by Thomas Davidson, iii. sig. B/1
      Where ever I go, both to and fro
      You have my heart alright.
    • 1922 : Ulysses by James Joyce, chapter 18
      …if I went by his advices every blessed hat I put on does that suit me yes take that thats alright the one like a wedding cake standing up miles off my head…
    • 1932 : "Goodbye, Christ" by Langston Hughes
      You did alright in your day, I reckon—
      But that day's gone now.
    • 1939 : Finnegans Wake by James Joyce, chapter 1.40
      Bladyughfoulmoecklenburgwhurawhorascortastrumpapornanennykocksapastippatappatupperstrippuckputtanach, eh? You have it alright.
    • 2000 : House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, page 105
      "You're alright Johnny," she said in a way that actually made him feel alright. At least for a little while.

Interjection

alright

  1. (informal) Used to indicate acknowledgement or acceptance; OK
  2. (Britain, informal) A generic greeting; hello; how are you.

Usage notes

  • Some distinguish between "alright" and "all right" by using "alright" to mean "fine, good, okay" and "all right" to mean "all correct". Alternatively (or in addition to the previous), "Alright" may be used as an interjection akin to "OK", whilst "all right" is used in the sense of "unharmed, healthy".
  • The contracted term is considered nonstandard by Garner's Modern American Usage and American Heritage Dictionary. Indeed, the Oxford English Dictionary notes that although analogous forms exist in words such as "already", "altogether", and "always", "the contracted form is strongly criticized in the vast majority of usage guides, but without cogent reasons".[3] The Oxford Dictionaries also conclude that "alright remains nonstandard"[4] and that it is "still regarded as being unacceptable in formal writing".[5] Other dictionaries and style manuals also consider it incorrect or less correct than all right.[6]

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

  1. ↑ http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=alright
  2. ↑ http://oxforddictionaries.com/words/all-right-or-alright
  3. ↑ "all right, adv., adj., int., and n.". OED Online. September 2012. Oxford University Press. 4 October 2012 <>.
  4. ↑ "All right", American English. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press.
  5. ↑ "All right", British English. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press.
  6. ↑ "Usage: Which one is correct: alright or all right?" Chicago Manual of Style (2015) "Dictionaries and style manuals still tend to indicate that alright is less legitimate than all right."
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