ENGLISH
REFERENCE

alright

adj. · adv. · interj.
US //ˌɔɫˈɹaɪt// UK //ɔːlɹˈaɪt// al·right
  1. 1 satisfactory or okay (adj.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    good enough or satisfactory, but not necessarily great.

    satisfactory or acceptable in quality; often used as a predicative adjective to describe a state of being.

    Example

    The food at the new café was alright, but the service was slow.

    Example

    The results of the preliminary test were alright, though the supervisor noted several areas where the team could improve their efficiency.

    Usage

    Usually follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel'.
    Pitfall
    The teacher said my essay was alright.
    The teacher said my essay was all right.

    While 'alright' is common in casual writing, many teachers and editors consider it a mistake and prefer 'all right' in formal contexts.

  2. 2 safe or unhurt (adj.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    safe, healthy, or not injured after an accident.

    in a satisfactory state of health or safety; free from injury or significant distress.

    Example

    Are you alright? That was a nasty fall you just had.

    Example

    Despite the severity of the collision, the paramedics confirmed that all passengers were alright and required no further medical attention.
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  1. 3 satisfactorily (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    in a way that is good enough or acceptable.

    in a satisfactory or adequate manner; used to modify a verb or an entire clause.

    Example

    The car seems to be running alright now that the battery is charged.

    Example

    The presentation went alright, although the speaker struggled slightly with the technical equipment during the first few minutes.
  2. 4 agreement or acknowledgement (interj.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    a word you use to show that you agree or understand.

    used to express agreement, compliance, or to signal that the speaker is ready to move to a new topic.

    Example

    Alright, I will meet you at the station at six o'clock.

    Example

    Alright, let's move on to the next item on the agenda since we have reached a consensus on the budget.
  3. 5 casual greeting (interj.)
    B1 Intermediate British English Informal

    a very casual way to say hello or ask how someone is.

    a phatic greeting used to acknowledge someone's presence, often functioning as a synonym for 'hello'.

    Example

    Alright? I haven't seen you around here for a few weeks.

    Example

    He gave a quick nod and a brief 'Alright?' as he passed his colleague in the hallway.

    Teacher's tip

    In British English, this is often a greeting rather than a genuine question about health; the standard response is often just to say 'alright' back.
Origin

Univerbation of all + right. Compare Old English eallriht (“all-right, just, exactly”) (from eall + riht), equivalent to al- (“all”) + right.

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