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Definitions

straighten

[streyt-n] / ˈstreɪt n /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“A lot of us, our hope is that eventually, history will straighten this all out and say, no, Gloria came in a little later, and her very loyal supporters have backtracked that history.”

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 3, 2026

I rarely straighten my mop of thick, curly hair, and when I do, it’s not always a great experience.

From Salon Feb. 2, 2026

It took a meeting with the inflation-slaying giant of a former Fed chair, Paul Volcker, to straighten him out.

From Barron's Oct. 8, 2025

Now, it is helping the company straighten up its balance sheet—and getting its hands on a major business in return.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 3, 2025

Daniel and Axel help Ms. Dale straighten up the office.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers

“We are going to take those sanctions off until this straightens out,” Trump said Monday.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 10, 2026

The Mercator map is arguably the best for this purpose, because it straightens out spiraling rhumb lines, and that’s why it rose to dominance.

From Slate Jan. 21, 2026

He straightens it out and enhances its faded colour with careful strokes of a pencil.

From BBC Nov. 29, 2025

He visibly straightens and says to Drummond, “Devour feculence,” establishing that this is how he naturally speaks.

From Salon Mar. 19, 2025

Momma straightens up and rubs Ms. Brenda’s shoulder.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

He played sensibly, taking 80 balls over his 58, until he was bowled by a wicked delivery from Foulkes that angled in, then straightened.

From BBC Jun. 27, 2026

Their mother, whom Jerry has been looking after, is dying, and there are medical bills that need to be straightened out.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 3, 2026

A very kind woman working behind the desk straightened me out: I was being too literal.

From Slate Dec. 29, 2025

“The tears that I have shed over this, the frustration, the hours on the phone, trying to get it straightened out,” said Reisen, who lives in the Philadelphia area.

From MarketWatch Oct. 21, 2025

Baron Hoover paused to take a shot, which missed, and straightened from the table with a grunt.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

His grand goal was to reduce flooding, ease navigation and expand commercial shipping capacity by straightening the river’s course and shortening the distance between Basel and Bonn by 50 miles.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 21, 2026

"Expansion and straightening cause water to drain away into the North Sea and Baltic Sea even faster, rather than being retained in the surrounding area."

From Barron's Aug. 13, 2026

As he arrived, straightening his tie, to be confirmed in the top job in central London 10 days ago, I asked him why he'd taken so long.

From BBC Jul. 27, 2026

“We’re supposed to be bright and alert pupils with intelligent and witty repartee,” Cumberbatch says, straightening up with feigned attention.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 28, 2025

Instead he saw Gebu, just straightening from his inspection of the finisher’s progress on a limestone slab.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw




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