OK — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adverb or adjective noun verb abbreviation adjective adverb /ō-ˈkā/

Meaning & Definition of OK

OK (adverb or adjective)

  1. all right

OK (noun)

  1. approval, endorsement

OK (verb)

  1. approve, authorize

OK (abbreviation)

  1. Oklahoma

OK (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being to one's liking

    "that dinner was OK, but I liked yesterday's better"

    similar: agreeable, all right, alright, copacetic, ducky, fine, good, hunky-dory, jake (slang), palatable, satisfactory
    related: delectable, delicious, delightful, dreamy, felicitous, gratifying, nice, pleasant, pleasing, scrumptious, welcome, acceptable, adequate, decent, passable, tolerable
    opposite: disagreeable, unsatisfactory
    near: bad, deficient, inferior, lousy, poor, punk, substandard, unacceptable, wanting, wretched, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

  2. of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards

    "this latest draft of the essay is OK but could be better"

    similar: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fairish, fine, good, passable, respectable, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable, up to snuff
    related: agreeable, bearable, endurable, sufferable, average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, middling, minimal, common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-rate, so-so, standard, unexceptional, appropriate, correct, due, fitting, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable, useful, worthy, gratifying, satisfying
    opposite: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting
    near: disagreeable, disreputable, improper, indecent, objectionable, unfit, unsuitable, unworthy, useless, wrong, bad, cheap, defective, faulty, imperfect, incomplete, lamentable, pitiful, shoddy, dissatisfying, insufficient, meager, mean, miserly, poor, scanty, shabby, short, skimpy, spare, stingy, insufferable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable, atrocious, execrable, miserable, vile, wretched, exceptional, exquisite, extreme, fancy, first-class, high-grade, matchless, maximized, maximum, optimal, optimum, peerless, preeminent, premium, special, supreme, unmatched, unparalleled, A1, bang-up, banner, boss (slang), capital, classic, crackerjack, dandy, divine, fabulous, first-rate, grand, great, groovy, heavenly, jim-dandy, keen, marvelous, neat, nifty, noble, par excellence, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, wonderful

OK (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. in a satisfactory way

    "you did OK on that last test"

    similar: acceptably, adequately, all right, alright, creditably, decently, fine, good, middlingly, nicely, passably, respectably, satisfactorily, serviceably, so-so, sufficiently, tolerably, well
    related: appropriately, aptly, congruously, correctly, decorously, felicitously, fittingly, happily, meetly, rightly, seemly, suitably, gratifyingly, satisfyingly, effectively, effectually, efficiently, neatly, tidily
    opposite: bad, badly, deficiently, ill, inadequately, insufficiently, intolerably, poorly, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily
    near: unbearably, inappropriately, incorrectly, indecently, unsuitably, awfully, deplorably, disastrously, dreadfully, horrendously, horribly, horridly, miserably, terribly

  2. used to express agreement

    "OK, fine, I'll go to the party"

    similar: all right, alright, aye, exactly, okeydoke, yea, yeah, yep, yes, yo
    related: absolutely, assuredly, certainly, indeed, indisputably, positively, undoubtedly, unquestionably
    opposite: nay, no, no way, scarcely

OK (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an acceptance of something as satisfactory

    "our supervisor gave his OK on the project, so we can go ahead with it"

    similar: approbation, approval, blessing, favor, imprimatur, clean bill of health, pat on the back
    related: backing, cachet, endorsement, finalization, formalization, homologation, nod, ratification, rubber stamp, sanction, support, thumbs-up, vote, benediction, goodwill, acceptation, accession, agreement, assent, concurrence, consent, countenance, liking, satisfaction
    opposite: disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor
    near: refusal, rejection, repudiation, dislike, dissatisfaction, censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation, deprecation, depreciation, disparagement, opprobrium, reprehension, reproach, reprobation

OK (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give official acceptance of as satisfactory

    "a judge will have to OK the search warrant"

    similar: accredit, approbate, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, ratify, sanction, warrant
    related: accept, acknowledge, affirm, certify, endorse, validate, bless, canonize, sanctify, initial, rubber-stamp, sign, sign off (on), allow, enable, legalize, license, pass, permit, reapprove
    opposite: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto
    near: ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn

  2. to have a favorable opinion of

    "I'm glad that my friends OK'd my choice of girlfriend"

    similar: accept, approve (of), care (for), countenance, favor, subscribe (to), go for, hold with, take kindly to
    related: acclaim, applaud, laud, praise, salute, back (up), concur (in), stand by, support, sustain, uphold, bear, endure, tolerate, assent (to), consent (to), commend, recommend, enjoy, like
    opposite: disapprove (of), discountenance, disfavor, frown (on or upon)
    near: blacklist, censure, condemn, criticize, damn, denounce, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, reprehend, reprobate, dislike, mind, detest, hate, loathe, dissent (from), object (to), oppose

Related Entry: A-OK (adjective)

A-OK is a different word from OK. The synonyms below are for A-OK, not for OK.

  1. of the very best kind

    "rated by his colleagues as an A-OK investigative reporter"

    similar: A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (chiefly British), boss (slang), brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool (slang), corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope (slang), down (slang), dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous (slang), fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, gone (slang), grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype (slang), immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous, mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one, numero uno, out-of-sight (slang), par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat (slang), prime, primo (slang), prize, prizewinning, quality, radical (slang), righteous (slang), sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, top-of-the-line, top-shelf, topflight, topping (chiefly British), unsurpassed, wizard (chiefly British), wonderful, out of this world, too much
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional
    opposite: atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
    near: bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for OK

The most common words with a similar meaning to OK:

Slang: jake
agreeable, all right, alright, copacetic, ducky, fine, good, hunky-dory, palatable, satisfactory, acceptable, adequate, decent, fairish, passable, respectable, serviceable, tolerable, up to snuff, acceptably, adequately, creditably, decently, middlingly, nicely, passably, respectably, satisfactorily, serviceably, so-so, sufficiently, tolerably, well, aye, exactly, okeydoke, yea, yeah, yep, yes

Antonyms & Opposite Words for OK

Words with the opposite meaning of OK:

disagreeable, unsatisfactory, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, wanting, bad, badly, deficiently, ill, inadequately, insufficiently, intolerably, poorly, unacceptably, unsatisfactorily, nay, no, no way, scarcely, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor, decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative

Related Words for OK

delectable, delicious, delightful, dreamy, felicitous, gratifying, nice, pleasant, pleasing, scrumptious, welcome, bearable, endurable, sufferable, average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, middling, minimal, common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-rate, standard, unexceptional, appropriate, correct, due

Near Antonyms of OK

inferior, lousy, poor, punk, substandard, wretched, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate, disreputable, improper, indecent, objectionable, unfit, unsuitable, unworthy, useless, wrong, cheap, defective, faulty, imperfect, incomplete, lamentable, pitiful, shoddy, dissatisfying, meager, mean

Word Forms of OK

Inflections: OK'd, okayed, OK'ing, okaying

Origin & Etymology of OK

abbreviation of oll korrect, facetious alteration of all correct

First known use: 1839

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for OK

Words & Phrases Containing OK

A-OK

Frequently Asked Questions about OK

What does "OK" mean?

"OK" means all right. As an an adverb or adjective, a noun, a verb, an abbreviation, an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: all right. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "OK"?

Other words for "OK" include agreeable, all right, alright, copacetic, ducky, fine, good and hunky-dory. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "OK" you intend.

What are different ways to say "OK"?

There are 194 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "OK". Common alternatives include agreeable, all right, alright, copacetic, ducky, fine, good, hunky-dory, jake and palatable.

What is the opposite of "OK"?

Antonyms of "OK" include disagreeable, unsatisfactory, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable and wanting. Near antonyms include inferior, lousy, poor and punk.

How do you use "OK" in a sentence?

Examples of "OK" in a sentence: "that dinner was OK, but I liked yesterday's better"; "this latest draft of the essay is OK but could be better"; "you did OK on that last test".

Is "OK" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"OK" can be used as an adverb or adjective, a noun, a verb, an abbreviation, an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "OK" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "OK" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "OK"?

"OK" is pronounced /ō-ˈkā/.