rightly
Americanadverb
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in accordance with truth or fact; correctly.
to see rightly; to understand rightly.
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in accordance with morality or equity; uprightly.
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properly, fitly, or suitably.
to be rightly dressed.
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Informal. with certainty; positively.
I can't rightly say.
adverb
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in accordance with the facts; correctly
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in accordance with principles of justice or morality
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with good reason; justifiably
he was rightly annoyed with her
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properly or suitably; appropriately
rightly dressed for a wedding
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informal (used with a negative) with certainty; positively or precisely (usually in the phrases I don't rightly know, I can't rightly say )
Etymology
Origin of rightly
before 900; Middle English; Old English rihtlīce. See right, -ly
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.
"Kavanagh took his time and used all his experience to rightly ascertain that contact continued inside the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick," he added.
From BBC
For many it will, quite rightly, take months to come back.
From BBC
"I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge that our initial response to this tragic incident fell short of what Police Scotland and the public rightly expects," she said.
From BBC
You may be thinking, and quite rightly, that after suggesting Whaleback Hill, followed by Double Whaleback Hill, to then suggest tobogganing down something called Baby Whaleback Hill would be somewhat less exciting, not more.
From Literature
He rightly calls the legislative process “the bulwark of liberty.”
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
