Straighten - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To straighten means to make something neat, orderly, or free from bends or curves. It can refer to physical objects, like hair or a path, or abstract things, like resolving a misunderstanding.
Definition:
To make something straight or orderly, or to correct posture or alignment.
Synonyms:
align, adjust, correct, tidy, unbend
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
bend, twist, curve
Common Collocations:
straighten hair, straighten up, straighten a tie, straighten the room
Derivatives:
straightener, straightening
Usage Tips:
Use "straighten" for physical alignment or tidying; often paired with objects like hair or rooms.
Common Phrases:
straighten up and fly right, straighten things out, get something straightened out
Etymology:
Derived from "straight," from Old English "streht," meaning stretched or direct.
Examples:
- 1. She used a comb to straighten her tangled hair.
- 2. He paused to straighten his crooked tie before the meeting.
- 3. The teacher asked the students to straighten their desks in neat rows.
- 4. Can you help me straighten this picture on the wall?