okay

Permission or agreement that allows something to happen.

• We need your okay.
• The manager gave us the okay to leave.
• Have you got the final okay?

How to use it: the okay to do something (We got the okay to start.); the okay from someone (I need the okay from my boss.)

Similar words: approval, permission, go-ahead

Common phrases: give the okay, get the okay, someone’s okay

To give permission for something or agree that it is acceptable.

• The boss must okay this plan.
• She okayed our request yesterday.
• Who can okay these changes?

Similar words: approve, authorize

Opposites: reject

Common phrases: okay a plan, okay the budget, okay something

To check with someone that they agree to something you want to do.

• Okay it with Dad first.
• Have you okayed the trip with your parents?
• I okayed the change with my boss.

How to use it: okay something with someone (Please okay the dates with your manager.)

Similar words: clear

Common phrases: okay something with someone, okay it first

Healthy, safe, or feeling well enough.

• Are you okay?
• I felt okay after a short rest.
• She fell, but she was okay.

Similar words: fine, well, all right

Opposites: unwell

Common phrases: feel okay, be okay, okay now

Good enough or acceptable, although perhaps not very good.

• The food was okay.
• Is this price okay for you?
• The room looked okay, but it was small.

How to use it: okay for someone/something (This room is okay for one night.); okay to do something (The water is okay to drink.)

Similar words: acceptable, all right, adequate

Opposites: unacceptable

Common phrases: an okay meal, okay for someone, okay to use

Friendly or pleasant enough to like.

• He is an okay guy.
• Your new neighbour seems okay.
• I met her brother; he was okay.

Similar words: nice, decent, pleasant

Opposites: unpleasant

Common phrases: an okay guy, an okay person

Used to show that you accept or agree to something.

• Okay, I will help you.
• Okay, see you at six.
• You need another day? Okay.

Similar words: all right, sure

Common phrases: okay then, okay sure, okay with me

Used after a statement to ask whether someone agrees or understands.

• Wait here, okay?
• We will meet outside, okay?
• Please bring your notebook tomorrow, okay?

Similar words: all right

Common phrases: okay with you, okay for you