outright

[ adjective out-rahyt; adverb out-rahyt, -rahyt ]

See synonyms for outright on Thesaurus.com

adjective

complete or total: an outright loss.
downright or unqualified: an outright refusal.

without further payments due, restrictions, or qualifications: an outright sale of the car.
Archaic. directed straight out or on.

adverb

completely; entirely.
without restraint, reserve, or concealment; openly: Tell me outright what's bothering you.

at once; instantly: to be killed outright.
without further payments due, restrictions, or qualifications: to own the house outright.
Archaic. straight out or ahead; directly onward.

Origin of outright

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at out, right

Other words for outright

5	downright, utterly, altogether, thoroughly

See synonyms for outright on Thesaurus.com

Other words from outright

outrightness, noun

Words Nearby outright

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use outright in a sentence

Occasionally, guys and girls admitted outright they were looking for a potential significant other.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots | Emily Shire | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
We must not interpret gains as an outright victory—nothing could be more dangerous.
Millions Promised for Ebola Not Adding Up | Abby Haglage | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Fiquet has been largely overlooked, if not outright disdained, by critics and art historians.
Sight Unseen: Cézanne’s Mysterious Wife | Lizzie Crocker | November 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Fully 88 percent of us either identify outright or lean to a party, 47 percent Democrat and 41 percent Republican.
Reality Check: There Are No Swing Voters | Goldie Taylor | November 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Inhofe is not just a climate-change denier; he is a warrior for corporate-funded half-truths and outright lies.
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday | Jonathan Alter | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Accordingly, as soon as they saw our Priests they refused outright to let the ship sail if the Jesuits were to embark in it.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614 | Various
Gwynne laughed outright, and for the first time without resentment; he was tired of having California "rammed down his throat."
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
Margaret laughed outright and her laughter was so inoffensive and so musical that the Chief Inspector laughed also.
Dope | Sax Rohmer
Are you going to throw off the mask outright, and become a bad husband as well as a neglectful one?
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood
You may go hence if your courage fails you outright; but I'll throw up the bridge and entrench myself within these walls.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for outright

outright

adjective(ˈaʊtˌraɪt) (prenominal)

without qualifications or limitations: outright ownership
complete; total: an outright lie

straightforward; direct: an outright manner

adverb(ˌaʊtˈraɪt)

without restrictions: buy outright
without reservation or concealment: ask outright

instantly: he was killed outright
obsolete straight ahead or out

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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