all right

alternative nonstandard proscribed sometimes alright · alternative misspelling allright

1. not comparableGood; in acceptable, if not excellent condition.

   The car is all right. It gets me there, anyway.

2. not comparableIn good health, unharmed.

   I had a headache earlier, but now I'm all right.

   3 more examples

   The dread of most etherizers is a quiet breather who may stop breathing without his notice, and requires the almost constant presence of his ear at the patient's mouth to be sure he or she is all right.

   1903, William Brodie, Carl Jungk, Francis Edward Stewart, The Therapeutic Gazette, page 536

   ‘No. I only opened the door a foot and put my head in. The street lamps shine into that room. I could see him. He was all right. Sleeping like a great grampus. Poor, poor chap.’

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   Next I called my dear friend Nellie Connally in Dallas. We had been close to Nellie and John for many years, sharing moments of sorrow and happiness alike. She reported that the surgeon had just finished operating and that John was going to be all right.

   1971, Lyndon Johnson, “The Beginning”, in The Vantage Point, Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 16

alternative nonstandard proscribed sometimes alright · alternative misspelling allright

1. not comparableFairly well.

   It went all right because my old drill still works all right.

   1 more example

   Its Chairman stated last December: "We believe that if we establish a sensible, coherent system, try to be as efficient as possible, get new equipment as fast as we're able and show our passengers we like them, we'll do all right."

   1958 May 28, John R. Day, “Railway Prospects in the U.S.A.”, in Railway Magazine, page 347

2. informalnot comparableMost certainly; for sure.

   You taught them a lesson all right! They won't be back.

alternative nonstandard proscribed sometimes alright · alternative misspelling allright

1. Used to affirm, indicate agreement, or consent.

   All right, let's go then.

   1 more example

   Presently there came a loud ring, then a decided voice, asking for 'Mr. Laurie', and a surprised-looking servant came running up to announce a young lady. "All right, show her up, it's Miss Jo," said Laurie, going to the door of his little parlor to meet Jo, who appeared, looking rosy and quite at her ease, with a covered dish in one hand and Beth's three kittens in the other.

   1868, Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

2. Used to indicate support, favor or encouragement.

   All right! They scored!

3. Used to fill space or pauses.

   All right, so what you suggest we do next?

4. Used as a general lead-in or beginning.

   All right, let's get started.

5. Used to express exasperation or frustration, often reduplicated or with already.

   All right, already! Let me finish what I was doing first, and then we can talk.

   1 more example

   Jasdeep: Why don’t you command yourself to buy us new clothes, cheapskate? Sultan: What? Who said that? Speak up! Anbumani: And while you’re at it, I wouldn’t mind a better place to live. Six people in one room at the Route 16 Motel, stinks. Sultan: All right! That was you, Sultana! I know that voice!

   2005, Annabelle du Fouet, “Kinksters and kinksterettes—Who are these people, anyway?” (chapter 1), in Weather Balloons Make Rotten Sex Toys, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, page 29

6. UKinformalTerm of greeting, equivalent to how are you or hello.

   All right, mate, how are things with you and the missus?