2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you do something in the right way or in the right place, you do it as or where it should be done or was planned to be done. □ Walking, done in the right way, is a form of aerobic exercise. □ The chocolate is then melted down to exactly the right temperature. ● ADV [ADV after v] Right is also an adverb. □ To make sure I did everything right, I bought a fat instruction book.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that someone is seen in all the right places or knows all the right people, you mean that they go to places which are socially acceptable or know people who are socially acceptable. □ He was always to be seen in the right places.
4 ADJ If someone is right about something, they are correct in what they say or think about it. □ Ron has been right about the result of every General Election but one. ● right|ly ADV □ He rightly assumed that the boy was hiding.
5 ADJ If something such as a choice, action, or decision is the right one, it is the best or most suitable one. □ She'd made the right choice in leaving New York. □ The right decision was made, but probably for the wrong reasons. ● right|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She hoped she'd decided rightly.
6 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something is not right , there is something unsatisfactory about the situation or thing that you are talking about. □ Ratatouille doesn't taste right with any other oil.
7 ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If you think that someone was right to do something, you think that there were good moral reasons why they did it. □ You were right to do what you did, under the circumstances. ● right|ly ADV [ADV before v] □ The crowd screamed for a penalty but the referee rightly ignored them.
8 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Right is used to refer to activities or actions that are considered to be morally good and acceptable. □ It's not right, leaving her like this. ● N‑UNCOUNT Right is also a noun. □ At least he knew right from wrong. ● right|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Many people have very strong opinions about the rightness or wrongness of abortion.
9 VERB If you right something or if it rights itself , it returns to its normal or correct state, after being in an undesirable state. □ [V n] They recognise the urgency of righting the economy. □ [V pron-refl] Your eyesight rights itself very quickly.
10 VERB If you right a wrong, you do something to make up for a mistake or something bad that you did in the past. □ [V n] We've made progress in righting the wrongs of the past.
11 VERB If you right something that has fallen or rolled over, or if it rights itself , it returns to its normal upright position. □ [V n] He righted the yacht and continued the race. □ [V pron-refl] The helicopter turned at an awful angle before righting itself.
12 ADJ [ADJ n] The right side of a material is the side that is intended to be seen and that faces outwards when it is made into something.
13 PHRASE If you say that things are going right , you mean that your life or a situation is developing as you intended or expected and you are pleased with it. □ I can't think of anything in my life that's going right.
14 PHRASE If someone has behaved in a way which is morally or legally right, you can say that they are in the right . You usually use this expression when the person is involved in an argument or dispute. □ She wasn't entirely in the right.
15 PHRASE If you put something right , you correct something that was wrong or that was causing problems. □ We've discovered what's gone wrong and are going to put it right.
16 heart in the right place → see heart
17 it serves you right → see serve
18 on the right side of → see side
➋ right ◆◆◆ /ra I t/ The spelling Right is also used for meaning 3 . 1 N‑SING The right is one of two opposite directions, sides, or positions. If you are facing north and you turn to the right, you will be facing east. In the word 'to', the 'o' is to the right of the 't'. □ Ahead of you on the right will be a lovely garden. ● ADV [ADV after v] Right is also an adverb. □ Turn right into the street.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Your right arm, leg, or ear, for example, is the one which is on the right side of your body. Your right shoe or glove is the one which is intended to be worn on your right foot or hand.
3 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] You can refer to people who support the political ideals of capitalism and conservatism as the right . They are often contrasted with the left , who support the political ideals of socialism. □ The Tory Right despise him.
4 N‑SING If you say that someone has moved to the right , you mean that their political beliefs have become more right-wing. □ They see the shift to the right as a worldwide phenomenon.
5 PHRASE If someone is at a person's right hand , they work closely with that person so they can help and advise them. □ I think he ought to be at the right hand of the president.
➌ right ◆◆◆ /ra I t/ (rights )
1 N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] Your rights are what you are morally or legally entitled to do or to have. □ They don't know their rights. □ You must stand up for your rights.