straighten

straighten — verb

1. to remove bends or curves from something so that it runs in a single line, or fo

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to remove bends or curves from something so that it runs in a single line, or for a bent object to become straight by itself.

Example

Élise tried to straighten the bent coat hanger, but the wire curled back instantly.

transitive: straighten + bent object

The footpath straightens beyond the old oak tree near the edge of the village.

intransitive: path/road/line straightens

Common collocations
  • straighten a wire
  • straighten a picture
  • straighten a road
  • straighten a hem
  • straighten a line
Synonyms
  • unbend

    focuses on removing a bend from a single object, often metal or wire

  • smooth out

    more about removing wrinkles or creases from fabric or paper

  • align

    focuses on positioning things in a straight line relative to each other

Antonyms
  • bend

    to make something curved or folded

  • twist

    to turn something into a spiral or distorted shape

Grammar Patterns

straighten + object

subject + straighten (intransitive)

straighten up / straighten out

Usage Note

The intransitive use (the road straightens) describes a natural change of state, while the transitive use (she straightened the wire) implies deliberate effort.

Common Mistakes

He straights the picture on the wall.
He straightens the picture on the wall.
'straight' is an adjective, not a verb; the verb is 'straighten'.
She straightened up the bent nail.
She straightened the bent nail.
'straighten up' means to tidy or to stand, not to make something physically straight.

2. to make a surface flat and even so that nothing sticks up, tilts, or slopes.

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to make a surface flat and even so that nothing sticks up, tilts, or slopes.

Example

Naoko straightened the rug with her foot until the corner lay flat against the floor.

collocation: straighten a rug / carpet / mat

The construction crew straightened the foundation by pouring fresh cement over the low spots.

collocation: straighten a surface / foundation / floor

Common collocations
  • straighten a rug
  • straighten a picture frame
  • straighten a curtain
Synonyms
  • level

    more technical; often used for construction or precise measurement

  • flatten

    emphasises pressing something down until it is flat, often against a surface

Antonyms
  • tilt

    to cause a surface to slope or lean to one side

Grammar Patterns

straighten + object (a surface)

Usage Note

This sense overlaps partly with 'make level' or 'flatten,' but 'straighten' emphasises removing visible tilt or unevenness, not smoothing a rough texture.

3. to put items back into their proper positions in a space, making it look clean a

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to put items back into their proper positions in a space, making it look clean and well-organised rather than messy.

Example

Otis straightened his desk after the meeting, stacking the loose papers into neat piles.

transitive: straighten + room / desk / shelf

The children were told to straighten their rooms before the dinner guests arrived.

passive: be told to straighten [space]

Common collocations
  • straighten a room
  • straighten a desk
  • straighten the house
  • straighten a shelf
Synonyms
  • tidy

    very similar, but 'tidy' is more common in British English and can be used without an object ('tidy up')

  • neaten

    more formal and less common; emphasises making something appear neat

  • organise

    broader; includes deciding where items belong, not just rearranging

Antonyms
  • mess up

    to make a space untidy or disordered

  • scatter

    to spread things around randomly

Grammar Patterns

straighten + object (room / desk / books / things)

Usage Note

Unlike 'clean' (which involves washing or removing dirt), 'straighten' in this sense is about arranging objects neatly. The phrasal verb 'straighten up' is very common with this meaning, especially in spoken English.

Common Mistakes

I need to clean my desk' (when you mean arranging papers).
I need to straighten my desk.
'clean' involves removing dirt; 'straighten' means putting things in order.

4. to move your back, neck, shoulders, or legs into a straight position after they

4.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to move your back, neck, shoulders, or legs into a straight position after they have been bent or slouched, often while standing up from a seated or hunched posture.

Example

The nurse straightened her back after two hours of leaning over the patient's bed.

collocation: straighten your back / shoulders / legs

Felipe straightened up when the manager walked past, looking suddenly alert.

phrasal: straighten up = stand upright

Common collocations
  • straighten your back
  • straighten your shoulders
  • straighten your legs
  • straighten up
Synonyms
  • unbend

    more formal; describes returning to a straight position after bending

  • stand up straight

    a full phrase; more explicit about the resulting posture

Antonyms
  • slouch

    to sit or stand with bent shoulders and a curved back

  • hunch

    to bend your back and shoulders forward

Grammar Patterns

straighten + back / shoulders / legs

straighten up

straighten + reflexive pronoun

Usage Note

When 'straighten' is used with body parts, the object is almost always a body part ('straighten your back') or the reflexive pronoun ('straighten yourself'). The phrasal verb 'straighten up' is commonly used without an object for the same meaning.

Common Mistakes

He straightened his body and sat down.
He straightened up and sat down.
'straightened his body' sounds odd; use 'straighten up' or name a specific body part like 'back'.
Phrasal verbs

straighten up

phrasal verb

to make a room, house, or other space neat and tidy by putting things back where they belong.

Before the landlord arrived for the inspection, Inês and her roommates straightened up the entire apartment.

Henrik spent Saturday morning straightening up the garage, sweeping the floor, and organising the tools on the wall rack.

straighten out

phrasal verb

to successfully deal with a problem, misunderstanding, or complicated situation so that everything becomes clear or works properly.

The accounts department is working to straighten out the billing error that affected fifty customers last month.

Zola and her partner sat down together to straighten out the misunderstanding about who would pay for the wedding.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

While all four words involve putting something into a better arrangement, they target different problems. 'Straighten' is the general-purpose verb for removing bends or curves — you straighten a picture, a road, or a piece of wire. 'Unbend' is more specific and slightly more formal: it means reversing a deliberate bend, such as unbending a paperclip. 'Flatten' focuses on making something level and two-dimensional by pressing down, like flattening a crumpled map, and does not work for long thin objects like a hose. 'Align' means positioning two or more objects in relation to each other — you align the wheels of a car or align text in a document. 'Tidy' belongs to a different domain (organisation of household spaces) and describes returning items to their proper places, such as tidying a desk after work. If you straighten a room, you are either physically adjusting crooked objects (sense 2) or tidying it (sense 3); the context makes the meaning clear.

unbendflatten ↗align ↗tidy ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

'Straighten' was formed in Middle English by adding the verb-making suffix '-en' to the adjective 'straight'. 'Straight' itself comes from Old English 'streht', the past participle of 'streccan', meaning 'to stretch out or extend'. The original sense of 'stretch out' survives in the physical meaning, while the organisational and figurative senses developed later.