Word
straightforward
Phoneticsstraight·for·ward, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɹeɪtˈfɔɹwɝd/
UK/stɹeɪtfˈɔːwəd/
Definitions
01easy and simple
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. easy to do or understand; not complicated.
adj. uncomplicated and easy to perform or comprehend; lacking complexity.
“The instructions for the new coffee machine were very straightforward.”
“The assembly process was surprisingly straightforward, requiring only a single tool and less than twenty minutes of focused effort.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02honest and direct
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. honest and open about what you think, without trying to hide anything.
adj. direct and honest in communication; free from ambiguity or evasiveness.
“I appreciate his straightforward way of talking about the problem.”
“The CEO gave a straightforward account of the company's financial difficulties, earning the respect of the shareholders through her transparency.”
Synonyms
03moving in a straight line
C2 · Proficiency Literary
adj. moving or pointing in a straight direction.
adj. proceeding in a straight course without deviation.
“The path through the forest was straightforward and easy to follow.”
“The road offered a straightforward trajectory across the plains, stretching toward the horizon without a single curve for miles.”
Synonyms
04in a direct way
C2 · Proficiency Formal
adv. in a direct or honest manner.
adv. in a direct, honest, or uncomplicated manner; often replaced by 'straightforwardly' in modern usage.
“He looked at her straightforward and told her the truth.”
“The witness answered each question straightforward, refusing to be rattled by the prosecutor's aggressive line of inquiry.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “straightforward” in context.
Adjective
01. quite straightforward
“The installation process is quite straightforward and should only take a few minutes.”
adv + adj
02. relatively straightforward
“Compared to the previous project, this task was relatively straightforward to complete.”
adv + adj
03. straightforward manner
“He explained the complex legal procedures in a straightforward manner that everyone could understand.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“After spending seven weeks playing a teenager who is desperate to be their own person, Ramsey's advice for young people struggling to fit in is straightforward.” “It is not, Nyathi is careful to point out, a straightforward story about polygamy.” Etymology
From straight + forward.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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