verb
Meaning 1
To make straight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- Straighten out your necktie and comb your hair.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: straighten
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
straighten out
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
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verb
Meaning 2
To correct or rectify.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, transitive
Examples
- I hope they can straighten out the problem with my bill soon.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sort out
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To eliminate confusion from or concerning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, transitive
Examples
- As soon as I straighten out which of the twins is which, I'll start calling them by their names.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: figure out, sort out, work out
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To correct; to stop doing something wrong.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, intransitive
Examples
- It is not enough to stand aside and hope problems straighten out on their own.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: work out
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To tidy, neaten, or organize.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sort out, tidy up
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To be made a made man in a Mafia organization.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Qualifier: Mafia slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To make heterosexual.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
change for the better
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The lazy student promised to reform
- the habitual cheater finally saw the light
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: reform, see the light
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: better, improve, ameliorate, meliorate
verb
Meaning 9
settle or put right
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- we need to iron out our disagreements
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: iron out, put right
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: better, improve, amend, ameliorate, meliorate
verb
Meaning 10
put (things or places) in order
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Tidy up your room!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tidy, tidy up, clean up, neaten, straighten, square away
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: order
Narrower terms: make, make up, houseclean, clean house, clean
verb
Meaning 11
make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Could you clarify these remarks?
- Clear up the question of who is at fault
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clear, clear up, shed light on, crystallize, crystallise, crystalize, crystalise, sort out, enlighten, illuminate, elucidate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: clarify, clear up, elucidate
verb
Meaning 12
make straight
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: straighten
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change, alter, modify
Narrower terms: untwist, unbend, extend, channelize, channelise, untwine, unweave, comb
verb
Meaning 13
extricate from entanglement
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Can you disentangle the cord?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: disentangle, unsnarl
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: order
Narrower terms: tease, tease apart, loosen, ravel, unravel, ravel out
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
18 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- German: richten — make straight
- German: gerade biegen — make straight
- German: gerade richten — make straight
- German: glätten — make straight
- German: entzerren — make straight
- German: ausbeulen — make straight
- Spanish: enderezar — make straight
- German: in Ordnung bringen — correct or rectify
- German: korrigieren — correct or rectify
- German: ausbügeln — correct or rectify
- Ancient Greek: κατορθόω (katorthóō) — correct or rectify
- Latin: corrigo — correct or rectify
- Spanish: arreglar — correct or rectify
- German: klarstellen — eliminate confusion
- Spanish: aclarar — eliminate confusion
- German: auf den rechten Weg kommen — stop doing something wrong
- German: aufräumen — tidy, neaten, or organize
- Spanish: ordenar — tidy, neaten, or organize