okay

[[t]o͟ʊke͟ɪ[/t]]

♦♦

okays, okaying, okayed

also OK, O.K., ok

1) ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ to-inf, it v-link ADJ if If you say that something is okay, you find it satisfactory or acceptable. [INFORMAL]

...a shooting range where it's OK to use weapons...

Is it okay if I come by myself?...

I guess for a fashionable restaurant like this the prices are OK.

Syn:

all right

ADV: ADV after v

Okay is also an adverb.

We seemed to manage okay for the first year or so after David was born.

2) ADJ: v-link ADJ If you say that someone is okay, you mean that they are safe and well. [INFORMAL]

Check that the baby's okay...

`Don't worry about me,' I said. `I'll be okay.'

Syn:

all right

3) CONVENTION (formulae) You can say `Okay' to show that you agree to something. [INFORMAL]

`Just tell him Sir Kenneth would like to talk to him.' - `OK.'...

`Shall I give you a ring on Friday?' - `Yeah okay.'

Syn:

all right

4) CONVENTION You can say `Okay?' to check whether the person you are talking to understands what you have said and accepts it. [INFORMAL]

Add them together, divide by five, and you've got the average. Okay?...

We'll get together next week, OK?

Syn:

all right

5) CONVENTION You can use okay to indicate that you want to start talking about something else or doing something else. [INFORMAL]

OK. Now, let's talk some business...

Tim jumped to his feet. `Okay, let's go.'

Syn:

right

6) CONVENTION You can use okay to stop someone arguing with you by showing that you accept the point they are making, though you do not necessarily regard it as very important. [INFORMAL]

Okay, there is a slight difference...

Okay, so I'm forty-two.

7) VERB If someone in authority okays something, they officially agree to it or allow it to happen. [INFORMAL]

[V n] His doctor wouldn't OK the trip...

[V n] We are all wondering why the government is suddenly okaying a brand new school on the island.

N-SING: the N

Okay is also a noun.

He gave the okay to issue a new press release... We are ready to start flying to Britain as soon as we get the okay.