straighten out
phrasal verb
straightened out; straightening out; straightens out
1
: to make (something) straight or to become straight
You need to straighten out your legs for this stretch.
The river curves and then straightens out again.
2
: to make (something) organized or tidy : to put (something) in order
He took time to straighten out the papers on his desk.
3
: to deal with (something) successfully
I need more time to straighten out my problems.
4
: to improve in behavior or condition or to cause (someone or something) to improve in behavior or condition
He straightened out after joining the army.
The problem will not straighten out on its own.
You need to straighten your life out.
Her parents sent her to boarding school to straighten her out.
Examples of straighten out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Yankees have straightened out after a six-game losing streak and remain only two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.
—
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
From there, his absence might not be an extended one, but there will be a focus on getting his mechanics straightened out.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 5 July 2025
The letter from the lawmakers, who all voted for the bill that included $700 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade, is a sign that significant issues still need to be straightened out for the bill to move forward.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 24 June 2025
City officials want the applicants to work with Orange County to straighten out and improve the road before the development moves forward.
—Tyler Williams, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for straighten out
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Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
From there, his absence might not be an extended one, but there will be a focus on getting his mechanics straightened out.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 5 July 2025
The letter from the lawmakers, who all voted for the bill that included $700 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade, is a sign that significant issues still need to be straightened out for the bill to move forward.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 24 June 2025
City officials want the applicants to work with Orange County to straighten out and improve the road before the development moves forward.
—Tyler Williams, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for straighten out
Cite this Entry
“Straighten out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straighten%20out. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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