DOWNRIGHT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does downright mean? 

• DOWNRIGHT (adjective)
  The adjective DOWNRIGHT has 2 senses:

1. characterized by plain blunt honesty

2. complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

  Familiarity information: DOWNRIGHT used as an adjective is rare.

• DOWNRIGHT (adverb)
  The adverb DOWNRIGHT has 1 sense:

1. thoroughgoing

  Familiarity information: DOWNRIGHT used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DOWNRIGHT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by plain blunt honesty

Context example:

a downright kind of person

Similar:

honest; honorable (not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent)

Derivation:

downrightness (the quality of being direct and straightforward)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

Synonyms:

absolute; downright; out-and-out; rank; right-down; sheer

Context example:

sheer stupidity

Similar:

complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)

• DOWNRIGHT (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Thoroughgoing

Context example:

he is outright dishonest

Domain usage:

intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)

 Context examples 

“Silver, if you like,” cried the squire; “but as for that intolerable humbug, I declare I think his conduct unmanly, unsailorly, and downright un-English.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

My good Utterson, said the doctor, this is very good of you, this is downright good of you, and I cannot find words to thank you in.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

"He's a downright murderer, I know," was the dog-musher's comment.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Don't long for poison—don't turn out a downright Eve on my hands!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It is downright labour to him where ladies are concerned.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Deep, downright, faithful earnestness.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As for the ship, he had taken a downright fancy to her.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

At first it was downright dulness to Emma.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Heaven knows, I cannot find it in my heart to blame you, but this much I will say, be it kind or unkind: when Captain Smollett was well, you dared not have gone off; and when he was ill and couldn't help it, by George, it was downright cowardly!

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

But, Mr. Knightley, are you perfectly sure that she has absolutely and downright accepted him.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)