Standard Lemma guide

rightly

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹaɪtli/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪtli
  • CMU ARPABET: R AY1 T L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a right manner; correctly, justifiably.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • She was quite rightly disappointed in not being promoted.
  • I don't rightly know what he meant by that remark.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: correctly, properly, accordantly, accordingly, agreeably, appropriately, becomingly, compliantly, conformably, consistently, duly, fitly, rightly, suitably, chastely, continently, decently, decorously, deservingly, dutifully, duteously, meritoriously, modestly, morally, nobly, right-mindedly, righteously, virtuously, worthily

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

with honesty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was rightly considered the greatest singer of his time

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: justly, justifiedly

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English ryȝtly, rihtliche, from Old English rihtlīċe, from Proto-West Germanic *rehtalīkā, *rehtalīkō, from Proto-Germanic *rehtalīkê, *rehtalīkô (“rightly”), equivalent to right + -ly. Cognate with West Frisian rjochtlik, Dutch rechtelijk, German rechtlich, Swedish rätteligen, Icelandic réttilega.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: справедливо (spravedlivo) — in a right manner
  • Bulgarian: с право (s pravo) — in a right manner
  • Finnish: oikeutetusti — in a right manner
  • Gothic: 𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍄𐌰𐌱𐌰 (raihtaba) — in a right manner
  • Sanskrit: साधु (sādhu) — in a right manner