all right

¹

[awl rahyt, awl rahyt]

adverb

1. yes; very well; OK.

   All right, I'll go with you.

2. (used as an interrogative or interrogative tag) OK?; do you agree?.

   We'll deal with this problem tomorrow, all right?

3. satisfactorily; acceptably.

   His work is coming along all right.

4. without fail; certainly.

   You'll hear about this, all right!

adjective

1. safe; sound.

   Are you all right?

2. satisfactory; acceptable.

   His performance was all right, but I've seen better.

3. Informal.,  reliable; good.

   That fellow is all right.

all-right

²

[awl-rahyt]

adjective

Informal.

1. agreeable, acceptable, or commendable.

   an all-right plan.

all right

adjective

1. adequate; satisfactory

2. unharmed; safe

3. slang

   1. acceptable

      an all-right book

   2. reliable

      an all-right guy

1. very well: used to express assent

adverb

1. satisfactorily; adequately

   the car goes all right

2. without doubt

   he's a bad one, all right

Spelling Note

See alright.

Word History and Origins

Origin of all right¹

First recorded in 1100–50; originally an adverbial phrase; compare Middle English al ri(g)ht “indeed, straightway, at once,” late Old English eall riht “just (as)”

Origin of all right²

First recorded in 1815–25

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. (a) bit of all right, quite satisfactory (used as an understatement).

   The way he saved that child's life was a bit of all right.

Completely correct, as in You have a perfect score—your answers are all right . (It could just as well be put as “all your answers are right.”)

In proper or working order, in a satisfactory way, as in The engine is running all right now . [Late 1800s] Also see turn out all right .

In good health, as in John had the flu, but he's all right now . [Early 1900s]

Not injured, safe, as in It was just a minor accident and everyone is all right . [Early 1900s]

Very well, yes, as in Do you want to leave now?—All right , or All right, we'll stay home . [First half of 1800s] Also see all right with you .

Certainly, without a doubt, as in It's late all right, but it will probably come today . [Mid-1800s]

Hurrah! Good for you, as in All right! your team has done it again! [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

Also, all-right . Good, satisfactory. For example, This restaurant is all right , or Harry is an all-right guy . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

“He said, ‘Bear with me — it’s all going to be all right,’” Bonneville recalls.

From Los Angeles Times

“But even if he gets frustrated, or can’t figure it out at first, he’s like, ‘It’s all right.

From Los Angeles Times

“Having Matthew back is just like, ‘Yeah, all right, we’re ready to roll,” Williams said.

From Los Angeles Times

"The injury is all right," Wood told the Stick to Cricket podcast.

From BBC

Some responses, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, riffed on leftist conspiracy: “This is the future us leftists want. For the domain of all right winged red necks to turn on them and force veganism upon them.”

From Salon