right
verb
righted; righting; rights
1
2
: avenge
vows to right the injustice done to his family
3
a
: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition
right the economy
b
: to bring or restore to an upright position
right a capsized boat
: to become upright
righter
noun
Examples of right in a Sentence
It was time to right an old wrong.
No one can right all the wrongs in the world.
The government needs to do something to right the economy.
They righted the capsized boat.
He quickly righted himself after he fell off the chair.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Guidance Out of Darkness Act rights this wrong by requiring federal agencies to be transparent about interpretations of the law through publishing guidance in an easily accessible, online location.
—
Editorial, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
But this version of the USMNT righted the ship within minutes and began pressing Germany hard, producing chance after chance before finally connecting on Robinson's extraordinary goal before the halftime break.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 7 June 2026
Renegade is a closer, and Pletcher has been open about how much grit his horse showed in the Derby, righting himself to run a game second after suffering a few bumps in the early traffic.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Crow-Armstrong hit first solo shot in the sixth, hammering Roupp's high sinker deep to right to tie it at 1-1.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for right
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Editorial, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026
But this version of the USMNT righted the ship within minutes and began pressing Germany hard, producing chance after chance before finally connecting on Robinson's extraordinary goal before the halftime break.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 7 June 2026
Renegade is a closer, and Pletcher has been open about how much grit his horse showed in the Derby, righting himself to run a game second after suffering a few bumps in the early traffic.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Crow-Armstrong hit first solo shot in the sixth, hammering Roupp's high sinker deep to right to tie it at 1-1.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for right
Cite this Entry
“Right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
right
1 of 4 adjective
1
2
: following what is just, good, or proper
right conduct
3
: agreeing with facts or truth : correct
the right answer
4
: appropriate entry 2, suitable
the right person for the job
the right tool
5
: straight sense 1
a right line
6
7
a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body which is away from the side on which the heart is mostly located
the right leg
b
: located nearer to the right side of the body
the right arm of the chair
8
: being shaped in such a way that a line drawn from the middle of the top to the middle of the base is perpendicular to the base
a right cone
9
: being or meant to be the side on top, in front, or on the outside
landed right side up
right side out
10
: acting or judging in a way that agrees with truth or fact
time proved us right
11
: healthy in mind or body
did not feel right
12
: most worth having or seeking
the right neighborhoods
the right people
rightness
noun
right
2 of 4 noun1
: the ideal of what is just and good
2
: something to which one has a just claim
—often used in plural
the right to freedom of religion
the movie rights to a story
3
: something that one may properly claim as due
knowing the truth is her right
4
: the cause of truth or justice
fighting for right
5
a
: the right side or the part on the right side
b
: a turn to the right
take a right at the stop sign
6
: the quality or state of being factually correct
there's both right and wrong in that argument
7
often capitalized
: the members of a European legislative body sitting to the right of the officer in charge and holding more conservative political views than other members
8
often capitalized
: political conservatives
right
3 of 4 adverb1
: according to right
live right
2
: in the exact location or position : precisely
right where you left it
3
: in a suitable, proper, or desired manner
hold your pen right
4
: in a direct line or course
go right home
5
: according to fact or truth : truly
guess right
heard right
6
: all the way
windows right to the floor
7
: without delay : immediately
right at 2 o'clock
8
: to a great degree : very
a right pleasant day
right
4 of 4 verb1
: to make right (something wrong or unjust)
2
a
: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition
b
: to bring or restore to an upright position
3
: to become upright
righter
noun
Medical Definition
right
adjective
: of, relating to, or being the side of the body which is away from the heart and on which the hand is stronger in most people
her right foot
also
: located nearer to this side than to the left
right
adverb
Legal Definition
right
nounˈrīt
1
a
: qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
b
: something that is morally just
able to distinguish right from wrong
2
: something to which one has a just claim: as
a
: a power, privilege, or condition of existence to which one has a natural claim of enjoyment or possession
the right of liberty
that all men…are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights—Declaration of Independence
see also natural right
Declaration of Independence
b
: a power, privilege, immunity, or capacity the enjoyment of which is secured to a person by law
one's constitutional rights
c
: a legally enforceable claim against another that the other will do or will not do a given act
the defendant may be under a legal duty…to exercise reasonable care for the plaintiff's safety, so that the plaintiff has a corresponding legal right to insist on that care—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
d
: the interest that one has in property : a claim or title to property
—often used in pl.
leasing mineral rights
see also real right
e
plural
: the interest in property possessed (as under copyright law) in an intangible thing and especially an item of intellectual property
obtained publishing rights
3
: a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price
Etymology
Old English riht, from riht righteous
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