# outright

/ˈaʊˈtɹaɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outright
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. completely or totally

adverb · CEFR B2

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

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

- The candidate won the election outright with sixty percent of the vote.
- The proposal was rejected outright by the board, who felt the financial risks far outweighed any potential long-term benefits.

### 2. immediately

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

straight away or at once, without waiting.

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

- The driver was killed outright in the terrible accident.
- The impact was so severe that the structural supports failed outright, leaving no time for an emergency evacuation.

### 3. openly and honestly

adverb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: openly and without reservation or concealment.

- I decided to tell him outright that I didn't like his idea.
- Rather than hinting at her dissatisfaction, she stated her concerns outright during the staff meeting.

### 4. total or complete

adjective · CEFR B2

total and complete, leaving no doubt.

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

- The whole story was an outright lie from start to finish.
- The investigation revealed that the company had committed an outright fraud against its investors over several years.

### 5. to release a player

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · American English

to release a sports player from their contract completely.

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

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

## Examples

- She is the outright winner of the race.
- The team's performance was so dominant that they secured an outright victory before the final game.
- The candidate's outright rejection of the proposal surprised the committee, as they had expected at least some room for negotiation.

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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.