ENGLISH
REFERENCE

outright

adv. · adj. · v.
US //ˈaʊˈtɹaɪt// out·right
  1. 1 completely or totally (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    completely or totally, often used when someone wins or when a statement is a lie.

    wholly or completely; used to emphasize the absolute nature of an action or state.

    Example

    The candidate won the election outright with sixty percent of the vote.

    Example

    The proposal was rejected outright by the board, who felt the financial risks far outweighed any potential long-term benefits.
  2. 2 immediately (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    straight away or at once, without waiting.

    instantly or without delay; occurring at the moment of an event.

    Example

    The driver was killed outright in the terrible accident.

    Example

    The impact was so severe that the structural supports failed outright, leaving no time for an emergency evacuation.
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  1. 3 openly and honestly (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    clearly and directly, without trying to hide your true feelings.

    openly and without reservation or concealment.

    Example

    I decided to tell him outright that I didn't like his idea.

    Example

    Rather than hinting at her dissatisfaction, she stated her concerns outright during the staff meeting.
  2. 4 total or complete (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    total and complete, leaving no doubt.

    unqualified, absolute, or complete; typically used before a noun to provide emphasis.

    Example

    The whole story was an outright lie from start to finish.

    Example

    The investigation revealed that the company had committed an outright fraud against its investors over several years.
  3. 5 to release a player (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical American English Sport

    to release a sports player from their contract completely.

    to release a player from a contract without any further conditions or obligations.

    Example

    The team decided to outright the veteran player after his performance declined.

    Example

    Under the current league rules, the front office chose to outright the struggling pitcher to their minor league affiliate.

    Usage

    The verb is transitive and usually appears in professional sports contexts.
Origin

From Middle English outright, equivalent to out + right.

Word family

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