English Reference
adjective · adverb

straightforward

adj. · adv.
US /ˈstɹeɪtˈfɔɹwɝd/ UK /stɹeɪtfˈɔːwəd/ straight·for·ward

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.easy to do or understand; not complicated.

    adj.uncomplicated and easy to perform or comprehend; lacking complexity.

    Simple

    The instructions for the new coffee machine were very straightforward.

    In context

    The assembly process was surprisingly straightforward, requiring only a single tool and less than twenty minutes of focused effort.

  2. 02 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.

    Simple

    I appreciate his straightforward way of talking about the problem.

    In context

    The CEO gave a straightforward account of the company's financial difficulties, earning the respect of the shareholders through her transparency.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Literary

    adj.moving or pointing in a straight direction.

    adj.proceeding in a straight course without deviation.

    Simple

    The path through the forest was straightforward and easy to follow.

    In context

    The road offered a straightforward trajectory across the plains, stretching toward the horizon without a single curve for miles.

    directundeviating
  4. 04 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.

    Simple

    He looked at her straightforward and told her the truth.

    In context

    The witness answered each question straightforward, refusing to be rattled by the prosecutor's aggressive line of inquiry.

Usage quite straightforward · relatively straightforward · straightforward manner

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.

BBC News· 15 Aug 2026

It is not, Nyathi is careful to point out, a straightforward story about polygamy.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

From straight + forward.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated