ok
ok — exclamation
1. a short reply you say when you are willing to do what someone has asked, or when
a short reply you say when you are willing to do what someone has asked, or when you accept what someone has just said.
“Can you pick up some milk on the way home?” “OK, I will.”
OK as a one-word agreement to a request
“Let's meet at the library at four.” “OK, see you there.”
OK + follow-up clause confirming a plan
Maya thought for a second and then said, “OK, I will lend you my bike.”
reported speech: said, “OK, …”
“Could you turn the music down a bit?” “Oh, OK, sorry.”
Oh, OK — slightly reluctant agreement
Carlos shrugged and said, “OK, fine, we can watch your movie first.”
OK, fine — yielding after small resistance
- OK, I will
- OK, sure
- Oh, OK
- OK, fine
- no way
informal refusal of a request
Grammar Patterns
OK, [clause]
OK + period or comma
Usage Note
Almost always spoken or used in chat messages. Avoid in formal writing — switch to 'Yes, I will' or 'Agreed' there. Tone depends on what comes after: 'OK!' sounds keen; 'Oh, OK…' sounds reluctant; flat 'OK.' sounds neutral.
Common Mistakes
2. added to the end of a sentence with a rising voice to ask the listener whether t
added to the end of a sentence with a rising voice to ask the listener whether they have understood, or whether they agree to what you just said.
I will be back home by ten o'clock tonight, OK?
[plan], OK? — checking the listener accepts
Don't tell your sister about the surprise, OK?
instruction + OK? — softens an order
Mr. Lin pointed at the map and said, “We meet here at noon, OK?”
checking that listeners follow a plan
Push the red button first, then turn the dial, OK?
instructions + OK? — asks the learner to confirm
The coach told the swimmers, “Two more laps and then you can rest, OK?”
softens a demand into something easier to accept
- …, OK?
- got it, OK?
- remember, OK?
Grammar Patterns
[clause], OK?
rising intonation on OK
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1: this OK has rising intonation and sits at the end of the clause as a tag, while sense 1 OK starts a reply. In writing, the question mark is essential — without it, readers will read it as sense 1.
Common Mistakes
3. said at the beginning of a sentence to signal that you are about to do the next
said at the beginning of a sentence to signal that you are about to do the next thing, often followed by 'let's' or an order to a group.
OK, let's get started — please open your books to page twelve.
OK, let's [verb] — group action signal
OK, everyone, line up by the door for the field trip.
OK, everyone — calling a group to do something
Coach Tanaka clapped his hands and said, “OK, on the field in five minutes.”
OK + brief order kicks off an activity
OK, time to clean up — put your toys back in the box, please.
OK, time to [verb] — switching to a new task
Lina took a deep breath and said, “OK, I'm going in,” then stepped onto the stage.
OK + first-person plan — psyching yourself up
- OK, let's…
- OK, everyone
- OK, time to…
- OK, on three
Grammar Patterns
OK, let's [verb]
OK, [imperative]
Usage Note
Different from sense 1 (a reply): here OK starts a new turn and is not answering anyone — it pivots from one moment to the next. Often followed by 'let's', 'time to', or a direct command.
Common Mistakes
4. spoken between clauses as a tiny break, giving the speaker a moment to think bef
spoken between clauses as a tiny break, giving the speaker a moment to think before going on, or marking the next step in a longer explanation.
First you crack the eggs, OK, and then you whisk them with a little salt.
OK between two steps in an instruction
We will fly to Osaka on Friday, OK, and from there take the train to Kyoto.
OK marking a brief pause in a plan
The tax form goes in the green folder, OK, and the receipts go in the blue one.
OK separating two parallel pieces of information
Dr. Patel paused, then said, “The first symptom is fever, OK, the second is a dry cough.”
OK linking enumerated items in spoken explanation
- …, OK, and…
- …, OK, then…
Grammar Patterns
[clause 1], OK, [clause 2]
Usage Note
Sounds natural in speech and teaching, but can clutter writing. Drop it in essays and reports. In transcripts, it often marks where a teacher or speaker is checking the listener is still with them.
Common Mistakes
ok — adjective
1. approved of, or allowed by the person whose permission you need.
approved of, or allowed by the person whose permission you need.
Is it OK with your parents if you stay over on Saturday?
is it OK with [person] if …?
Friday at six is OK with me — let's book the table.
[plan] is OK with me — confirming a plan
The boss said it was OK to leave early before the typhoon arrived.
it is OK to [verb] — granting permission
Bringing the dog is OK with the landlord, as long as we pay a deposit.
[doing something] is OK with [person]
- OK with me
- OK with you
- is it OK if…
- if that's OK
- not OK
the natural negative: 'Sunday is not OK with me'
Grammar Patterns
[something] is OK with [person]
Is it OK if …?
Usage Note
Subject is usually an arrangement, plan, or action. Almost always predicative — say 'the date is OK', not 'an OK date'. Use 'with + person' to name whoever is granting the agreement.
Common Mistakes
2. in a good enough state — for a person, healthy and not hurt or upset; for a thin
in a good enough state — for a person, healthy and not hurt or upset; for a thing, working properly or in good condition.
After the bike fell over, Mei stood up and said, “I'm OK, just a bit shaken.”
I'm OK after an accident — not hurt
Don't worry — the cat is OK, she was hiding under the bed during the storm.
[creature] is OK — safe and unharmed
Is the printer OK now, or do we need to call IT again?
is [thing] OK — working again
Carlos has been quiet all day; I want to check that he is OK.
check (that) [person] is OK — emotionally well
The roof leaked a little, but our books were OK, thanks to the plastic cover.
[thing] is OK — undamaged
- are you OK?
- I'm OK
- everything is OK
- feel OK
- look OK
Grammar Patterns
[person/thing] is OK
feel OK
look OK
Usage Note
Very high-frequency in spoken and written check-ins ('Are you OK?'). Carries a slight worry tone — using it suggests you had a reason to wonder if the person or thing was hurt or broken.
Common Mistakes
3. good enough but not impressive — describing something whose quality is in the mi
good enough but not impressive — describing something whose quality is in the middle: not great, not bad.
The pizza at that new place was OK, but I wouldn't go back twice.
[food] was OK — average, not impressive
Lina got an OK score on the maths test — enough to pass, not enough to brag.
an OK score — middling performance
The hotel room was OK for one night, but I wouldn't stay a week.
OK for [short use] — adequate, not great
“How was the movie?” “OK, I guess. The ending was a bit weak.”
OK, I guess — lukewarm review
- OK, I guess
- an OK [noun]
- just OK
- OK but not great
Grammar Patterns
[thing] is OK
an OK [noun]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 ('fine / safe'): this OK is about quality, not condition. Tone is mildly negative — calling a meal 'OK' suggests slight disappointment, not praise. Often softened with 'I guess' or 'I suppose'.
Common Mistakes
ok — adverb
1. describes how an action or event went when the result was good enough, without b
describes how an action or event went when the result was good enough, without being especially good or bad.
“How did your driving test go?” “It went OK — I passed by two points.”
[event] went OK — barely-good outcome
The new washing machine seems to be working OK so far.
working OK — running well enough
Marcus is doing OK at his new school — better than we feared.
doing OK at [place] — getting on adequately
The play opened OK on Thursday, though the second act needs more rehearsal.
[event] opened OK — modest success
- go OK
- do OK
- work OK
- sleep OK
- manage OK
- all right
same use: 'it went all right'
- fine
slightly more positive: 'she's doing fine'
- well enough
more written; same modest tone
- badly
negative outcome: 'the test went badly'
Grammar Patterns
[verb] OK
do OK
go OK
Usage Note
Pairs with action verbs like 'go', 'work', 'do', 'manage', 'sleep'. Tone is mild and faintly defensive — saying you 'slept OK' suggests neither great rest nor a bad night.
Common Mistakes
ok — verb
1. to give official agreement to a plan, request, or document, usually as the perso
to give official agreement to a plan, request, or document, usually as the person in charge.
The director OK'd the new logo on Tuesday morning, so the team can start printing.
[boss] OK'd [proposal] — past tense form
Nothing goes to the printer until the editor OKs the final copy.
[checker] OKs [document] — present tense
Marcus's holiday request was OK'd by his manager within an hour.
passive: be OK'd by [authority]
The committee will OK the budget at next Monday's meeting if the numbers add up.
[group] will OK [plan] — future approval
- OK a plan
- OK a request
- OK the budget
- be OK'd by [person]
- approve
the formal equivalent; better in reports and contracts
- authorise
stresses the official permission to act
- sign off on
informal phrasal verb; very close in meaning
Grammar Patterns
OK + [noun: plan / request / document]
be OK'd by [person]
Usage Note
Spelt 'OK'd' or 'okayed' in the past tense; both are accepted, with 'okayed' more common in newspapers. Subject is usually a person or body with authority (boss, editor, committee). Avoid in formal writing — switch to 'approve' or 'authorise'.
Common Mistakes
ok — noun
1. official permission to do something, usually given by a boss or other person wit
official permission to do something, usually given by a boss or other person with authority — often after they have checked the details.
The pilot waited for the OK from the tower before starting the engines.
wait for the OK from [authority]
Lina finally got the OK to take Friday afternoon off for the wedding.
get the OK to [verb] — permission for an action
Once the doctor gives the OK, Marcus can start running again after his ankle injury.
give the OK — granting permission
The builders cannot pour the concrete without the OK from the city inspector.
without the OK from [person] — no permission
- give the OK
- get the OK
- wait for the OK
- the OK from [person]
- approval
more formal; used in reports and contracts
- go-ahead
informal; same set phrases (give the go-ahead)
- green light
metaphor for permission; very informal
- refusal
the formal opposite when permission is not given
Grammar Patterns
give [someone] the OK
get the OK (to do something)
wait for the OK
Usage Note
Almost always with 'the' and one of a few set verbs: give, get, wait for, need. The giver is named with 'from + [authority]'. Switch to 'approval' or 'permission' in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
2. the two-letter postal code that stands for Oklahoma in American addresses, writt
the two-letter postal code that stands for Oklahoma in American addresses, written on envelopes, parcels, and forms.
Please send the parcel to 412 Oak Street, Tulsa, OK 74103.
city, OK + zip code (US address format)
The driving licence shows an address in Norman, OK, where Maya grew up.
[city], OK — naming a place in Oklahoma
On the form, write the state as OK if you live anywhere in Oklahoma.
write the state as OK on a form
Carlos packed the box and labelled it for delivery to Edmond, OK 73034.
labelled for [city], OK [zip]
- [city], OK [zip]
- Tulsa, OK
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Oklahoma
the full state name; used in normal sentences
Grammar Patterns
[city], OK [zip code]
Usage Note
Always uppercase with no full stops in modern US Postal Service style. Only used in addresses, forms, and tables — never in normal sentences ('She moved to OK' is wrong; say 'She moved to Oklahoma').
Common Mistakes
ok — abbreviation
1. the standard US Postal Service short form for Oklahoma, written with two capital
the standard US Postal Service short form for Oklahoma, written with two capital letters and no full stops.
The customs label listed the sender's state as OK and the city as Edmond.
OK as the state code on a label
Forms downloaded from the federal site already have OK in the state drop-down.
OK in a drop-down state list
Spreadsheet column B should hold the state code — type OK for Oklahoma rows.
type OK in a state-code column
The weather map showed thunderstorms across OK and the neighbouring parts of Texas.
OK on a map alongside other state codes
- state: OK
- OK (Oklahoma)
- Tulsa, OK
- Okla.
older newspaper-style abbreviation; rarely seen today
Grammar Patterns
OK (in address fields)
Usage Note
Functionally identical to noun sense 2; appears separately because dictionaries also list OK as a stand-alone abbreviation outside the noun system. Always two capitals (OK), never 'O.K.' in modern American postal style.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- okayexclamationA1
- okayedverb (past)B1
- okayingverb (-ing)B1
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/2
When checking how a person feels or how a thing is working, English speakers pick between OK, fine, all right, and well. OK is the most casual and carries a faint worry — you ask 'Are you OK?' when something might have gone wrong. Fine is just as common but feels slightly more positive and is the standard polite reply ('I'm fine, thanks'). All right is very close to OK and is the British favourite, often heard in greetings ('You all right?'). Well is narrower: it talks only about health, not feelings or objects, and sits beside 'feel' or after a linking verb ('She doesn't feel well'). Compare 'My phone is OK' (it works) with the odd '*My phone is well' (no native speaker would say it). For everyday safety checks, OK and all right are interchangeable; for polite greetings, fine wins; for health alone, well.
Common collocations
Nouns
- OK signal
- OK gesture
- OK button
Adverbs
- perfectly OK
- totally OK
- completely OK
- more than OK
- just OK
Phrases
- if that's OK
- is it OK if…
- give the OK
- get the OK
- wait for the OK
- are you OK?
- I'm OK
- everything is OK
- OK, let's…
Prepositions
- OK with [person]
- OK for [purpose]
- OK to [verb]
- the OK from [person]
Etymology
OK first appeared in Boston newspapers in 1839 as a joking abbreviation of 'oll korrect', a deliberate misspelling of 'all correct' that was part of a brief fashion for funny short forms. The next year, supporters of US president Martin Van Buren — nicknamed 'Old Kinderhook' after his birthplace — adopted OK as a campaign slogan, which fixed the spelling in public memory. The two-letter form spread quickly through telegraph operators, who liked its shortness, and from there into spoken English worldwide. Modern uses as adjective, adverb, verb, and noun all grew out of the same simple sense: 'all is in order'.