all right or alright?: Usage Guide
Although the spelling alright is more than a century and a half old, some critics have insisted alright is all wrong. Nevertheless, it has its defenders and its users, who perhaps have been influenced by analogy with altogether and already. Alright is less common than all right but is frequently found in informal writing and fictional dialogue.
Starting at a slower pace is perfectly alright.
—
Alia Haley
Alia Haley
"Alright, it is a bargain. I will help you."
—Harold Bell Wright
Harold Bell Wright
It is sometimes also used in more formal writing.
The first two years of the medical school were alright.
—Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein
1
: beyond doubt : certainly
She has pneumonia all right.
2
—used interjectionally especially to express agreement or resignation or to indicate the resumption of a discussion
All right, we can do that if you want.
All right, let's go.
3
: well enough : satisfactorily
He does all right in school.
Synonyms
Adjective
- agreeable
- alright
- copacetic
- copasetic
- copesetic
- ducky
- fine
- good
- hunky-dory
- jake [slang]
- OK
- okay
- palatable
- satisfactory
Adverb
Examples of all right in a Sentence
Adjective
The quality of his work is all right but not outstanding.
Her first movie was pretty bad but her second one was all right.
Is it all right to leave early?
Is this movie all right for children?
He was very sick but now he's all right again.
“Are you hurt?” “No, I'm all right.”
She was upset when her boyfriend left, but she's all right now.
Adverb
She does all right in school.
The engine was sputtering when I started it, but it's running all right now.
“How's your father?” “He was pretty sick, but he's doing all right now.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2024
So bats, the cetaceans — basically those are whales and dolphins, all right?
—Janna Levin, Quanta Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
The second song on the album sinks into the R&B influence and the slight delusions that everything will be all right when all the stars are aligned.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 4 Nov. 2024
That’s all right too—even if your drink doesn’t contain enough of the good stuff to officially make a difference.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for all right 
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Adjective
Heading into Sunday, the Cardinals lead the way at 6-4 to place first in the division but the Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers are all right behind them at 5-5, setting up for a thrilling end of the season in the NFC West.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2024
So bats, the cetaceans — basically those are whales and dolphins, all right?
—Janna Levin, Quanta Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024
The second song on the album sinks into the R&B influence and the slight delusions that everything will be all right when all the stars are aligned.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 4 Nov. 2024
That’s all right too—even if your drink doesn’t contain enough of the good stuff to officially make a difference.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for all right
Articles Related to all right
Video
Alright vs. All Right
Is 'alright' all right?
Dictionary Entries Near all right
Cite this Entry
“All right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20right. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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