# straight

/ˈstɹeɪt/ (US) · /stɹˈeɪt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. not curved

adjective · CEFR A2

not bending or curving; continuing in one direction.

For teachers: having a constant direction throughout its length; not crooked, curly, or bent.

- The road was straight for miles, so it was very easy to drive on.
- The architect insisted on perfectly straight lines to emphasize the building's minimalist aesthetic.

### 2. honest and direct

adjective · CEFR B1

honest and easy to understand; not trying to hide the truth.

For teachers: direct in communication and free from dishonesty or evasion.

- I just want a straight answer to my question.
- He has a reputation for being a straight shooter who never hides his true intentions from his business partners.

### 3. consecutive

adjective · CEFR B2

happening one after another without a break.

For teachers: occurring in an unbroken sequence; consecutive.

- They won three straight games and moved to the top of the league.
- After working ten straight hours without a break, the medical staff was visibly exhausted.

### 4. heterosexual

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

attracted to people of the opposite sex.

For teachers: denoting a heterosexual orientation.

- He has both straight and gay friends in his social circle.
- The documentary explores the experiences of both straight and LGBTQ+ individuals in rural communities.

### 5. neat or tidy

adjective · CEFR B1

organized and in the correct place.

For teachers: arranged in proper order; tidy and as it should be.

- I need to get the house straight before the guests arrive.
- It took several hours of filing to finally get the office records straight.

### 6. undiluted drink

adjective · CEFR C1 · General-service

a drink, like whisky, that is not mixed with water or ice.

For teachers: referring to spirits served undiluted and without mixers.

- He ordered a straight vodka at the bar.
- The connoisseur preferred his bourbon straight, arguing that ice cubes masked the subtle notes of the oak barrel.

### 7. directly

adverb · CEFR A2

in a direct line or without stopping.

For teachers: in a direct course; without pause, delay, or detour.

- Go straight down this hall and turn left at the end.
- After the meeting concluded, she went straight to the airport to catch the red-eye flight to London.

### 8. linear section

noun · CEFR B2

a part of a road or track that does not curve.

For teachers: a section of a track or road that is without curves.

- The runner took the lead on the final straight of the race.
- The race car reached its maximum speed on the long back straight before braking hard for the hairpin turn.

### 9. poker hand

noun · CEFR B2

a hand of five cards in a row, like 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

For teachers: a hand containing five cards in numerical sequence, regardless of suit.

- He won the pot because he had a straight and his opponent only had two pairs.
- The tension at the table peaked when the player revealed a king-high straight, beating the three-of-a-kind held by the dealer.

## Examples

- The road is straight for several miles.
- Use a ruler to ensure the line you draw is perfectly straight and connects both points accurately.
- The architect insisted on straight, clean lines to emphasize the building's modern aesthetic and to contrast with the organic shapes of the surrounding garden.

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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.