# straighten

/ˈstɹeɪtən/ (US) · /stɹˈeɪtən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/straighten
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to make straight

verb · CEFR B1

to make something straight instead of curved or bent.

For teachers: to cause something to become straight or linear.

- She used a hot iron to straighten the wrinkles in her dress.
- The technician had to straighten the bent metal frame before the glass pane could be safely reinstalled.

### 2. to tidy up

verb · CEFR B1

to put things in their proper place or make a room neat.

For teachers: to put in order or tidy a physical space or collection of objects.

- I need to straighten my desk before I can start working on the new project.
- The staff spent the hour before the gallery opening straightening the displays and ensuring every brochure was perfectly aligned.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'up' as 'straighten up'.

### 3. to stand upright

verb · CEFR B2

to make your body straight after you have been bending or sitting.

For teachers: to assume an upright posture, especially after stooping, bending, or sitting.

- He straightened his back and took a deep breath after hours of gardening.
- The elderly man straightened with a visible effort, wincing as his joints adjusted to the vertical position.

### 4. to clarify

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to explain something clearly so there is no more confusion.

For teachers: to clarify a situation, concept, or misunderstanding for an audience.

- Let me straighten the facts for you so you understand what really happened.
- The manager called a meeting to straighten out the conflicting reports regarding the budget deficit.

Usage: Commonly appears in the phrase 'straighten things out'.

### 5. to bribe

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang

to give someone money secretly so they will do something dishonest for you.

For teachers: to bribe or corrupt an official or individual to ensure a specific outcome.

- The gang tried to straighten the witness before the trial started.
- Rumours circulated that the developer had managed to straighten several members of the planning committee to ensure the permit was approved.

### 6. to change sexual orientation

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to try to make someone heterosexual.

For teachers: to attempt to change a person's sexual orientation to heterosexuality.

- The film explores the pressure he felt from his family to straighten himself out.
- The documentary critiqued historical attempts by institutions to straighten individuals through coercive psychological methods.

Teaching tip: This sense is often associated with controversial or harmful practices; use with caution as it can be offensive.

## Examples

- She paused to straighten her tie before the interview.
- The teacher asked the students to straighten their desks and pick up any paper on the floor before leaving.
- After the earthquake, the city spent years trying to straighten the damaged infrastructure and restore the historical district to its former geometric precision.

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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.