# alright

/ˌɔɫˈɹaɪt/ (US) · /ɔːlɹˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alright
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. satisfactory or okay

adjective · CEFR A2 · Informal

good enough or satisfactory, but not necessarily great.

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

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

### 2. safe or unhurt

adjective · CEFR A2 · Informal

safe, healthy, or not injured after an accident.

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

- Are you alright? That was a nasty fall you just had.
- Despite the severity of the collision, the paramedics confirmed that all passengers were alright and required no further medical attention.

### 3. satisfactorily

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

in a way that is good enough or acceptable.

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

- The car seems to be running alright now that the battery is charged.
- The presentation went alright, although the speaker struggled slightly with the technical equipment during the first few minutes.

### 4. agreement or acknowledgement

interjection · CEFR A2 · Informal

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

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

- Alright, I will meet you at the station at six o'clock.
- Alright, let's move on to the next item on the agenda since we have reached a consensus on the budget.

### 5. casual greeting

interjection · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

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

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

- Alright? I haven't seen you around here for a few weeks.
- He gave a quick nod and a brief 'Alright?' as he passed his colleague in the hallway.

Teaching 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.

## Examples

- The movie was alright, but I wouldn't watch it again.
- I was worried after the car accident, but the doctor said that everyone was alright.
- While the technical execution of the performance was alright, the critics felt it lacked the emotional depth required for such a tragic play.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.