straightaway

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌstreɪtəˈweɪ/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/adj., n. ˈstreɪtəˌweɪ; adv. -ˈweɪ/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(strāt′ə wā′)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
straight•a•way /adj., n. ˈstreɪtəˌweɪ; adv. -ˈweɪ/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. straight onward in course.

n. [countable]
  1. a straight part of a road, racetrack, etc.:On the straightaway he pulled ahead and won the race.

adv. 
  1. immediately;
    right away:They sent for him straightaway.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
straight•a•way  (strāt′ə wā′),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. straight onward, without turn or curve, as a racecourse.

n. 
  1. a straightaway course or part.

adv. 
  1. immediately;
    right away.
  • from phrase straight away 1870–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
straightaway /ˌstreɪtəˈweɪ/ adv also: straight away
  1. at once
 n
  1. the US word for straight
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
straight /streɪt/USA pronunciation   adj., -er, -est, adv., n. 
adj. 
  1. without a bend, angle, wave, or curve:a straight path from here to the mountain.
  2. exactly vertical or horizontal;
    level:straight shoulders.
  3. direct in character;
    truthful:We asked for a straight answer.
  4. honest;
    honorable;
    upright:He's always been fair and straight with us.
  5. reliable;
    agreeing with the facts;
    correct:straight reporting.
  6. logical;
    rational:straight thinking.
  7. being in the proper order or condition:Things are straight now.
  8. continuous;
    unbroken;
    one after the other:We lost six straight games.
  9. complete;
    unqualified:a straight liberal.
  10. Governmentsupporting all candidates of one political party:Many party members voted a straight ticket.
  11. Slang Terms[Informal.]
    • heterosexual.
    • traditional;
      conventional:He's too straight to try anything that unusual.
    • free from using narcotics:He's straight and hasn't even seen a drug dealer in years.
    • not engaged in crime;
      law-abiding.
  12. Winenot diluted or mixed with water:straight whiskey.

adv. 
  1. in a straight line:to walk straight.
  2. in or into an even or proper condition or position:Can you see if this picture is hung straight?
  3. in an erect posture:Stand straight.
  4. directly:Go straight home.
  5. frankly;
    candidly:Tell me straight: Are we still friends?
  6. in a proper, right manner, as by being free from drug use, criminal activity, etc.:He says he's gone straight and doesn't even think about stealing anymore.
  7. in possession of truth or facts;
    without lies or exaggeration:Let me set you straight on that rumor.
  8. without water added:to drink whiskey straight.

n. [countable]
  1. the condition of being straight.
  2. a straight form, part, or position.
  3. Slang Terms[Informal.]
    • a heterosexual:the question of gays and straights living together in the military.
    • one who follows conventional customs or morals.
  4. Gamesa sequence of five consecutive cards of various suits.
Idioms
  1. Idioms straight off or away, without delay;
    immediately:He left straight away and didn't even say good-bye.
  2. Wine, Idioms straight up, served without ice:a martini straight up.

straight•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
straight (strāt),USA pronunciation  adj. -er, -est, adv., n. 

adj. 
  1. without a bend, angle, or curve;
    not curved;
    direct:a straight path.
  2. exactly vertical or horizontal;
    in a perfectly vertical or horizontal plane:a straight table.
  3. (of a line) generated by a point moving at a constant velocity with respect to another point.
  4. evenly or uprightly formed or set:straight shoulders.
  5. without circumlocution;
    frank;
    candid:straight speaking.
  6. honest, honorable, or upright, as conduct, dealings, methods, or persons.
  7. Informal Termsreliable, as a report or information.
  8. right or correct, as reasoning, thinking, or a thinker.
  9. in the proper order or condition:Things are straight now.
  10. continuous or unbroken:in straight succession.
  11. thoroughgoing or unreserved:a straight Republican.
  12. Governmentsupporting or cast for all candidates of one political party:to vote a straight ticket.
  13. unmodified or unaltered:a straight comedy.
  14. without change in the original melody or tempo:She does straight songs, with just the piano backing her.
  15. Slang Terms[Informal.]
    • heterosexual.
    • traditional;
      conventional.
    • free from using narcotics.
    • not engaged in crime;
      law-abiding;
      reformed.
  16. Wineundiluted, as whiskey.
  17. Show Business[Theat.](of acting) straightforward;
    not striving for effect.
  18. Journalismwritten or to be written in a direct and objective manner, with no attempt at individual styling, comment, etc.:She gave me a straight story. Treat it as straight news.
  19. Games[Cards.]containing cards in consecutive denominations, as a two, three, four, five, and six, in various suits.

adv. 
  1. in a straight line:to walk straight.
  2. in an even form or position:pictures hung straight.
  3. in an erect posture:to stand up straight.
  4. directly:to go straight to a place.
  5. without circumlocution;
    frankly;
    candidly (often fol. by out).
  6. honestly, honorably, or virtuously:to live straight.
  7. without intricate involvement;
    not in a roundabout way;
    to the point.
  8. in a steady course (often fol. by on):to keep straight on after the second traffic light.
  9. into the proper form or condition;
    in order:to put a room straight.
  10. in possession of the truth or of true ideas:I want to set you straight before you make mistakes.
  11. sold without discount regardless of the quantity bought:Candy bars are twenty cents straight.
  12. Journalismdirectly and objectively:Write the circus story straight.
  13. without personal embellishments, additions, etc.:Tell the story straight. Sing the song straight.
  14. Wine(of liquor) served or drunk without ice, a mixer, or water;
    neat:He drank his whiskey straight.
  15. Informal Terms go straight, to live a law-abiding life;
    no longer engage in crime.
  16. Informal Terms play it straight, to do something without jokes, tricks, subterfuge, distortions, or the like:a comedian who plays it straight when he crusades against drug abuse.
  17. straight off, without delay;
    immediately:I told him straight off what I thought about the matter.Also, straight away. 
  18. Wine straight up, (of a cocktail) served without ice:a gin martini straight up.

n. 
  1. the condition of being straight.
  2. a straight form or position.
  3. a straight line.
  4. a straight part, as of a racecourse.
  5. Slang Terms[Informal.]
    • a heterosexual.
    • a person who follows traditional or conventional mores.
    • a person who is free from narcotics.
  6. Games[Chiefly Games.]a succession of strokes, plays, etc., which gives a perfect score.
  • 1250–1300; (adjective, adjectival) Middle English; origin, originally past participle of strecchen to stretch; (adverb, adverbial and noun, nominal) Middle English, derivative of the adjective, adjectival
straight′ly, adv. 
straight′ness, n. 
    5. open, direct. 6. virtuous, just, fair, equitable.
    1. crooked. 5. devious.
'straightaway' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
anon - forthright - full-bore - incontinently - straightway - summarily
Collocations: were [put off, deterred] straightaway, [sent, handed] them over straightaway, bring [them] to [me, my office, the post office] straightaway, more...

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