Origin disputed. Wikipedia lists many possible etymologies, of which the most widely accepted is that it is an abbreviation of oll/orl korrect, a comical spelling of all correct, which first appeared in print in The Boston Morning Post on March 23, 1839, as part of a fad for similar fanciful abbreviations in the United States during the late 1830s. The expression became popular through its use in the presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren in 1840, who was nicknamed Old Kinderhook, and then slowly acquired other meanings.
The Choctaw word oke, okeh (“it is so”), common in Choctaw translations of the Bible, could also explain OK's variety of affirmative definitions. Additionally, okeh was the most common etymology of okay in dictionaries until the 1960s, and linguistically predates Boston's O.K.. However, this theory suffers from the fact that the Choctaw language was relatively obscure and generally spoken (sometimes in a pidgin form) mainly with African-American slaves.
Meanings
All right, acceptable, permitted.
If someone has been transparent about their journey with GLP-1s, it’s OK to ask specific follow-up questions, she adds. 2026 January 29, Angela Haupt, “Can I Ask Someone if They’re on Ozempic?”, in TIME, archived from the original on 01 Feb 2026:
'Everything O.K. so far as I have found,' was the reassuring answer. 1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
Is it OK if I spend the night?
“A Summer Places”s simple thesis is that sexual promiscuity among the young is OK in general but it’s even more OK if the adults have a record of adultery and it’s even OKer than that if everybody has lots of money. But who wants to go slumming (even morally) in an armchair? 1967 August 19, Judith Crist, “This Week’s Movies”, in Merrill Panitt, editor, TV Guide, volume 15, number 33, Radnor, Pa.: Triangle Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, page A-5, column 2:
Satisfactory, reasonably good; not exceptional.
The soup was OK, but the dessert was excellent.
I watched her pale complexion and her creaseless school uniform as she shyly introduced herself in front of the class, and decided she was no different from all the others in Saginomiya Girls’ High School: rather smart, from an OK family, at any rate OKer than mine, with enough time and money to allow her to muse over where to get the latest version of tamagochi or that tartan dress with an above-knee hemline advertised in Seventeen. 2004, Chu-Ching Chen, “The Returnee”, in Tony Bradman, editor, Skin Deep, London: Puffin Books, →ISBN, page 222:
Satisfied (with); willing to accept a state of affairs.
If you leave the kids in the creche for one morning on your week's holiday, and they are OK with that, then it's fine. 2012, Roni Jay, The 10 Most Important Things You Can Do For Your Children:
In good health or a good emotional state.
In France, the French postal service La Poste provides a subscription service in which postal workers visit elderly subscribers to make sure they are okay, do not need anything, and provide brief social interaction. 2022 October 25, L. J. Shrum, Elena Fumagalli, Tina M. Lowrey, “Coping with loneliness through consumption”, in Journal of Consumer Psychology, volume 33, number 2, →DOI, page 452:
Are you OK?
‘Are we OK? Is this—?’ She made a gesture to include their two bodies. / ‘This is the OKest I’ve been in years.’ 2014, Sue Moorcroft, chapter 18, in The Wedding Proosal, Camberley, Surrey: Choc Lit, →ISBN, page 200:
He's not feeling well now, but he should be OK after some rest.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
o. k.
alternative
lexicographic
O. K.
alternative
lexicographic
OKer
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
o.k.
alternative
lexicographic
O.K.
alternative
lexicographic
okey
alternative
lexicographic
more OK
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
okeh
alternative
lexicographic
okie
alternative
lexicographic
OKest
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
okay
alternative
lexicographic
most OK
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
ok
alternative
lexicographic
Antonyms
inadequate (antonym(s) of “satisfactory”) · ill (antonym(s) of “in good health or a good emotional state”) · poor (antonym(s) of “satisfactory”) · unsatisfactory (antonym(s) of “satisfactory”) · unwell (antonym(s) of “in good health or a good emotional state”) · bad (antonym(s) of “satisfactory”) · NG (antonym(s) of “satisfactory”) · forbidden (antonym(s) of “all right, permissible”) · sick (antonym(s) of “in good health or a good emotional state”) · under the weather (antonym(s) of “in good health or a good emotional state”) · poorly (antonym(s) of “in good health or a good emotional state”)
Synonyms
permissible (all right, permissible) · allowed (all right, permissible) · jake (satisfactory) · satisfactory (satisfactory) · not bad (satisfactory) · fine (in good health or a good emotional state) · all right (satisfactory) · adequate (satisfactory) · well (in good health or a good emotional state) · all right (all right, permissible) · jake (all right, permissible)
Translations (168)
zh OK (ōukèi, ōukēi) (all right, permitted) · he בסדר (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · vi được (all right, permitted) · ka კაი (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ca d'acord (all right, permitted) · hu elfogadható (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · fi sopia (all right, permitted) · fi kelvollinen (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ro bine (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ar أُوكَي (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ja はい (all right, permitted) · sv okej (all right, permitted) · ja よし (all right, permitted) · fr pouvoir (all right, permitted) · eo enorde (all right, permitted) · lo ເວີຽ (all right, permitted) · de OK (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · tr peki (all right, permitted) · fi kunnossa (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · de alles in Ordnung (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ru всё в поря́дке (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · fi okei (all right, permitted) · ja まあまあ (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · fr permis (all right, permitted) · el εντάξει (all right, permitted) · ja OK (ōkē) (all right, permitted) · ro bun (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ro în regulă (all right, permitted) · hu okés (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · fi kelvata (all right, permitted) · tr tamam (all right, permitted) · uk до́бре (all right, permitted) · tl ayos (all right, permitted) · cy iawn (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · vi đâu vào đấy (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · is allt í lagi (all right, permitted) · zh 沒事 /没事 (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · zh OK (ōukēi) (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · sv bra (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · eo bonfarta (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · et kombes okei (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ro bine (all right, permitted) · ja 大丈夫 (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · gd gu snog (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ko 괜찮다 (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · zh 沒事 /没事 (all right, permitted) · fr bien (all right, permitted) · de alles in Ordnung (sein) (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · th โอเค (all right, permitted) · mk до́бро (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ga ceart go leor (all right, permitted) · mn болно (all right, permitted) · de OK (all right, permitted) · mk добар (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · zh 可以 (all right, permitted) · am ደህና (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · fo alt í lagi (all right, permitted) · vi OK (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · cy iawn (all right, permitted) · es bien (all right, permitted) · fr plutôt bon (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · hu oké (all right, permitted) · et hästi (all right, permitted) · fi OK (all right, permitted) · ja オーケー (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · la salvēre (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · pt bem (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · nl oké (all right, permitted) · fi ihan hyvä (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · fr assez bon (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · he או. קיי. (all right, permitted) · fr correct (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · fi okei (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · zh 好 (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · mk в ред (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · fi okei (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · hu megjárja (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ru оке́й (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · mk в ред (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · zh 行 (all right, permitted) · ru норма́льно (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · mk в ред (all right, permitted) · ka კაი (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · vi ổn (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · gd ceart gu leòr (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · hi ओके (all right, permitted) · ar حَسَنًا (all right, permitted) · tr iyimsi (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · tl ayos (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · kw da lowr (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · uk оке́й (all right, permitted) · am ደኅና (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ro teafăr (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · mk оке́ј (all right, permitted) · is ókei (all right, permitted) · am እሺ (all right, permitted) · vi được (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · fr pas mal (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ru оке́й (all right, permitted) · tr kabul edilebilir (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · vi tốt (all right, permitted) · tr olur (all right, permitted) · ru хорошо́ (all right, permitted) · ase O@Side-PalmForward K@Side-PalmForward (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ko 괜찮다 (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · et okei (all right, permitted) · ar بِخَيْر (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · hi ठीक (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · fr pouvoir passer (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · es normal (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · tl ayos (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · sv okej (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · mk оке́ј (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · gd ceart gu leòr (all right, permitted) · fr aller bien (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · tl sige (all right, permitted) · fr avoir le droit de (all right, permitted) · tr idare eder (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · de in Ordnung (all right, permitted) · et korras (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ar أُوكَي (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · eo kontentiga (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · pt OK (all right, permitted) · cy iawn (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · et hästi (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · de Gut (all right, permitted) · fr acceptable (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · de in Ordnung (sein) (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ar أُوكَي (all right, permitted) · hu elfogadható (all right, permitted) · am ደሕና (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · zh 好 (all right, permitted) · sk (byť) v poriadku (all right, permitted) · hu rendben van (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ar أُوكَي (all right, permitted) · eo akceptinda (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ko 괜찮다 (all right, permitted) · ru ла́дно (all right, permitted) · ja オーケー (all right, permitted) · it andare bene (all right, permitted) · ja 大丈夫 (all right, permitted) · it stare bene (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ru ОК (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · hu elmegy (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · eo deca (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ase O@Side-PalmForward K@Side-PalmForward (all right, permitted) · de Okay (all right, permitted) · he סביר (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ja OK (ōkē) (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · fr passable (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ar طَيِّب (all right, permitted) · fr pouvoir aller (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · mk до́бро (all right, permitted) · vi khỏe (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · km អូខី (all right, permitted) · ru быть в поря́дке (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ro în ordine (all right, permitted) · pt bom (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · ar صَحِيح (all right, permitted) · ko 오케이 (all right, permitted) · sv okej (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · et sobib (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · hu nincs baja (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · ar عَلَى مَا يُرَام (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well) · eo bona (satisfactory — see also acceptable, good) · he בסדר (all right, permitted) · hu rendben (all right, permitted) · fr ça va (in good health or in a good emotional state — see also well)
Origin disputed. Wikipedia lists many possible etymologies, of which the most widely accepted is that it is an abbreviation of oll/orl korrect, a comical spelling of all correct, which first appeared in print in The Boston Morning Post on March 23, 1839, as part of a fad for similar fanciful abbreviations in the United States during the late 1830s. The expression became popular through its use in the presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren in 1840, who was nicknamed Old Kinderhook, and then slowly acquired other meanings.
The Choctaw word oke, okeh (“it is so”), common in Choctaw translations of the Bible, could also explain OK's variety of affirmative definitions. Additionally, okeh was the most common etymology of okay in dictionaries until the 1960s, and linguistically predates Boston's O.K.. However, this theory suffers from the fact that the Choctaw language was relatively obscure and generally spoken (sometimes in a pidgin form) mainly with African-American slaves.
Meanings
Satisfactorily, sufficiently well.
The team did OK in the playoffs.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
ok
alternative
lexicographic
most OK
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
o.k.
alternative
lexicographic
O. K.
alternative
lexicographic
okie
alternative
lexicographic
o. k.
alternative
lexicographic
O.K.
alternative
lexicographic
okey
alternative
lexicographic
more OK
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
okeh
alternative
lexicographic
okay
alternative
lexicographic
Antonyms
unsatisfactorily (antonym(s) of “satisfactorily”) · NG (antonym(s) of “satisfactorily”) · inadequately (antonym(s) of “satisfactorily”) · poorly (antonym(s) of “satisfactorily”) · badly (antonym(s) of “satisfactorily”)
Origin disputed. Wikipedia lists many possible etymologies, of which the most widely accepted is that it is an abbreviation of oll/orl korrect, a comical spelling of all correct, which first appeared in print in The Boston Morning Post on March 23, 1839, as part of a fad for similar fanciful abbreviations in the United States during the late 1830s. The expression became popular through its use in the presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren in 1840, who was nicknamed Old Kinderhook, and then slowly acquired other meanings.
The Choctaw word oke, okeh (“it is so”), common in Choctaw translations of the Bible, could also explain OK's variety of affirmative definitions. Additionally, okeh was the most common etymology of okay in dictionaries until the 1960s, and linguistically predates Boston's O.K.. However, this theory suffers from the fact that the Choctaw language was relatively obscure and generally spoken (sometimes in a pidgin form) mainly with African-American slaves.
Meanings
Used to indicate acknowledgement or acceptance.
OK! I get it! Stop nagging me!
Let's meet again this afternoon. – OK.
Shut up! – OK, OK.
I promise to give it back. – OK.
Come by this afternoon. — Okay. 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
Used to dismiss a dialog box or confirm a prompt.
Used to introduce a sentence in order to draw attention to the importance of what is being said.
OK, I'm thinking of a number…
Used in turn-taking, serving as a request to the speaker to grant the turn to the interrupter.
You always do this to me! When we were at your mother’s, you said that… – OK, OK, …
Used to sarcastically or sardonically indicate agreement with the previous statement.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
okey
alternative
lexicographic
okeh
alternative
lexicographic
o. k.
alternative
lexicographic
O.K.
alternative
lexicographic
ok
alternative
lexicographic
okay
alternative
lexicographic
O. K.
alternative
lexicographic
okie
alternative
lexicographic
o.k.
alternative
lexicographic
Deriveds
OK'er (term derived from OK) · OK please (term derived from OK) · m'kay (term derived from OK) · k (term derived from OK) · OKish (term derived from OK) · you OK (term derived from OK) · OK, boomer (term derived from OK) · okey-dokey (term derived from OK) · A-okay (term derived from OK) · Horn OK Please (term derived from OK) · kthxbye (term derived from OK) · 'kay (term derived from OK) · okay (term derived from OK) · OK, zoomer (term derived from OK) · A-OK (term derived from OK)
am እሺ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · km អូខី (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tl sige (acknowledgement or acceptance) · zh 好 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fr OK (request in turn-taking) · tr tamam (request in turn-taking) · it va bene (acknowledgement or acceptance) · cy iawn (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hu jól van (request in turn-taking) · uk гара́зд (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ru ок (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ru ла́дно (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ca molt bé (acknowledgement or acceptance) · bg добре́ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hu jól van (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ko 알겠어요 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · lad peki (acknowledgement or acceptance) · lmo va ben (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar تمام (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ca OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar قشطة (acknowledgement or acceptance) · cy o'r gorau (request in turn-taking) · ko 알겠습니다 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · cy iawn (request in turn-taking) · ja 畏まりました (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sk takže (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · pt ora bem (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · tr okey (acknowledgement or acceptance) · erg ita (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pt OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · lmo OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · es de acuerdo (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ga ceart go leor (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fi okei (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sv bra (request in turn-taking) · ca entesos (acknowledgement or acceptance) · cs OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · eo en ordo (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sv ok (acknowledgement or acceptance) · lmo d'acòrdi (acknowledgement or acceptance) · nv hágoóneeʼ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · mk до́бро (acknowledgement or acceptance) · he טוֹב (acknowledgement or acceptance) · eo en ordo (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · ar يَعْنِي (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · eo konsentite (acknowledgement or acceptance) · el καλά (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar بسيدر (acknowledgement or acceptance) · it intesi (acknowledgement or acceptance) · gd ceart (acknowledgement or acceptance) · el εντάξει (acknowledgement or acceptance) · gd ceart ma-thà (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · fr entendu (acknowledgement or acceptance) · cy iawn (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · es ya (acknowledgement or acceptance) · zh OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hu szóval (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · fi no niin (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · hu na jó (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · fi selvä (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ms baik (acknowledgement or acceptance) · kok अडना (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ps ښه (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pt tá (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · lo ເອົາເຖີດ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ru хорошо́ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · th โอเค (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fr OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hu oké (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar أوكي (acknowledgement or acceptance) · gd ceart ma-tà (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · kok जाईतं (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tl sige (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · ka კაი (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ja 分かった (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sv okej (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hu akkor most (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · zh 明白了 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · eo okej (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tr olur (acknowledgement or acceptance) · eo bone (acknowledgement or acceptance) · bg оке́й (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ru оке́й (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ko 알았어 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · uk до́бре (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar ماشي (acknowledgement or acceptance) · es bien (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fr d'accord (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pl dobrze (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ro de acord (acknowledgement or acceptance) · vi được rồi (acknowledgement or acceptance) · cy o'r gorau (acknowledgement or acceptance) · it d'accordo (acknowledgement or acceptance) · es bueno (acknowledgement or acceptance) · it OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · erg inta (acknowledgement or acceptance) · he בְּסֵדֶר (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tr doğru (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fi no niin (request in turn-taking) · fi okei (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · ar حَسَنًا (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fr d'accord (request in turn-taking) · tr tamam (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tl oks (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pl gotowe (dismissal of a dialog box or confirmation of a prompt) · is ókei (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ms okey (acknowledgement or acceptance) · vi vâng (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sv okey (acknowledgement or acceptance) · es vale (acknowledgement or acceptance) · be до́бра (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hu akkor (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · fr c'est bon (request in turn-taking) · fr d'accord (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · ro bine (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hy բարի (acknowledgement or acceptance) · vi OK (dismissal of a dialog box or confirmation of a prompt) · vi rồi (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar طَيِّب (acknowledgement or acceptance) · de also (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · ar طَيِّب (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · mi tēnā (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar تمام (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sv okej (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · ar طَيِّب (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sk dobre (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tr tamam o zaman (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · cy o'r gorau (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · tr tamam (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · es OK (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pl w porządku (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ja 了解 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tr peki (acknowledgement or acceptance) · de in Ordnung (acknowledgement or acceptance) · de gut (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fr OK (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · cy reit (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · sv visst (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pt certo (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hu rendben (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pt tudo bem (acknowledgement or acceptance) · tr oldu (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sv okej (request in turn-taking) · vi dạ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pl zgoda (acknowledgement or acceptance) · la placet (acknowledgement or acceptance) · sk v poriadku (acknowledgement or acceptance) · de okay (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fa باشِه (acknowledgement or acceptance) · az oldu (acknowledgement or acceptance) · srn seti (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ca d'acord (acknowledgement or acceptance) · az yaxşı (acknowledgement or acceptance) · srn a regel (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fi okei (request in turn-taking) · lo ເອີ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · fr bon (introduction of a sentence in order to draw attention) · vi được (dismissal of a dialog box or confirmation of a prompt) · zh 知道了 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · hy լավ (acknowledgement or acceptance) · gd ceart gu leòr (acknowledgement or acceptance) · pt tá (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ko 알았어요 (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ja オッケー (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar أوكي (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ar تمام (acknowledgement or acceptance) · ang tela (acknowledgement or acceptance)
Origin disputed. Wikipedia lists many possible etymologies, of which the most widely accepted is that it is an abbreviation of oll/orl korrect, a comical spelling of all correct, which first appeared in print in The Boston Morning Post on March 23, 1839, as part of a fad for similar fanciful abbreviations in the United States during the late 1830s. The expression became popular through its use in the presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren in 1840, who was nicknamed Old Kinderhook, and then slowly acquired other meanings.
The Choctaw word oke, okeh (“it is so”), common in Choctaw translations of the Bible, could also explain OK's variety of affirmative definitions. Additionally, okeh was the most common etymology of okay in dictionaries until the 1960s, and linguistically predates Boston's O.K.. However, this theory suffers from the fact that the Choctaw language was relatively obscure and generally spoken (sometimes in a pidgin form) mainly with African-American slaves.
endorsement (endorsement or approval) · thumbs up (endorsement or approval) · green light (endorsement or approval) · approval (endorsement or approval) · nod (endorsement or approval) · go-ahead (endorsement or approval)
Translations (145)
zh OK (ōukèi, ōukēi) (endorsement; approval) · ru согла́сие (endorsement; approval) · kix nū (endorsement; approval) · vi chịu (endorsement; approval) · zh 行 (endorsement; approval) · hy բարի (endorsement; approval) · ja りょ (endorsement; approval) · uk добро́ (endorsement; approval) · ur اچھا (endorsement; approval) · ur اچھ (endorsement; approval) · mk в ред (endorsement; approval) · zh 可以 (endorsement; approval) · es OK (endorsement; approval) · ar تمام (endorsement; approval) · fi OK (endorsement; approval) · da grønt lys (endorsement; approval) · ka კარგი (endorsement; approval) · uk схва́лення (endorsement; approval) · ur ٹھیک ہے (endorsement; approval) · hu oké (endorsement; approval) · pl pasuje (endorsement; approval) · pa ਠੀਕ (endorsement; approval) · hi ठीक (endorsement; approval) · vi được (endorsement; approval) · tl oo (endorsement; approval) · et hästi (endorsement; approval) · vi ô kê (endorsement; approval) · ja よし (endorsement; approval) · fi hyväksyntä (endorsement; approval) · hy լավ (endorsement; approval) · fr accord (endorsement; approval) · nl groen licht (endorsement; approval) · de in Ordnung (endorsement; approval) · ce дика ду (endorsement; approval) · hu jóváhagyás (endorsement; approval) · bn ঠিক আছে (endorsement; approval) · mk во ред (endorsement; approval) · es visto bueno (endorsement; approval) · cs dobře (endorsement; approval) · et OK okei (endorsement; approval) · hu OK (endorsement; approval) · it va bene (endorsement; approval) · az yaxşı (endorsement; approval) · pt tá (endorsement; approval) · ur ٹھیک (endorsement; approval) · ja はい (endorsement; approval) · ca d'acord (endorsement; approval) · gu ઠીક (endorsement; approval) · eo aprobo (endorsement; approval) · bn বেশ (endorsement; approval) · pl dobrze (endorsement; approval) · tr okey (endorsement; approval) · vi tốt (endorsement; approval) · no alt i orden (endorsement; approval) · hu engedély (endorsement; approval) · zh 好 (endorsement; approval) · et davai (endorsement; approval) · ar طَيِّب (endorsement; approval) · de OK (endorsement; approval) · gl de acordo (endorsement; approval) · fa اوکی (endorsement; approval) · de alles klar (endorsement; approval) · am በቃ (endorsement; approval) · pt ok (endorsement; approval) · da o.k. (endorsement; approval) · ru одобре́ние (endorsement; approval) · ar تمام (endorsement; approval) · sv ok (endorsement; approval) · tr tamam (endorsement; approval) · fr bénédiction (endorsement; approval) · he בְּסֵדֶר (endorsement; approval) · el εντάξει (endorsement; approval) · az oldu (endorsement; approval) · mk до́бро (endorsement; approval) · da ok (endorsement; approval) · de okay (endorsement; approval) · fr OK (endorsement; approval) · fo í lagi (endorsement; approval) · ps ښه (endorsement; approval) · nl goedkeuring (endorsement; approval) · fa باشه (endorsement; approval) · th ก็ได้ (endorsement; approval) · is í lagi (endorsement; approval) · pt certo (endorsement; approval) · ka კეთილი (endorsement; approval) · vi đồng ý (endorsement; approval) · fa چشم (endorsement; approval) · cy caniatâd (endorsement; approval) · ar أوكي (endorsement; approval) · id oke (endorsement; approval) · acm زين (endorsement; approval) · mk оке́ј (endorsement; approval) · et olgu (endorsement; approval) · pl dobra (endorsement; approval) · ja オッケー (endorsement; approval) · pl okej (endorsement; approval) · pt beleza (endorsement; approval) · ko 괜찮아 (endorsement; approval) · ar طيب (endorsement; approval) · ar أُوكَي (endorsement; approval) · pl w porządku (endorsement; approval) · nl oké (endorsement; approval) · hu beleegyezés (endorsement; approval) · vi nhất trí (endorsement; approval) · vi OK (endorsement; approval) · ur باشد (endorsement; approval) · he טוֹב (endorsement; approval) · sk súhlas (endorsement; approval) · ko 오케이 (endorsement; approval) · ja 分かった (endorsement; approval) · ar ماشي (endorsement; approval) · fr feu vert (endorsement; approval) · sq O Kry (gheg) (endorsement; approval) · tr onay (endorsement; approval) · pl pasi (endorsement; approval) · fi kuittaus (endorsement; approval) · de gut (endorsement; approval) · ka კაი (endorsement; approval) · pl spoko (endorsement; approval) · ar طَيِّب (endorsement; approval) · fa خب (endorsement; approval) · ar أُوكِي (endorsement; approval) · pl zgoda (endorsement; approval) · eo okej (endorsement; approval) · mk ва́жи (endorsement; approval) · it ok (endorsement; approval) · ru добро́ (endorsement; approval) · ja オーケー (endorsement; approval) · he אוֹקֵי (endorsement; approval) · da OK (endorsement; approval) · ar حَسَنًا (endorsement; approval) · fi okei (endorsement; approval) · sq Ani (endorsement; approval) · hu hozzájárulás (endorsement; approval) · pt tá bom (endorsement; approval) · ja 了解 (endorsement; approval) · ar ماشي (endorsement; approval) · pt tá bem (endorsement; approval) · vi ưng (endorsement; approval) · uk зго́да (endorsement; approval) · hi ओके (endorsement; approval) · sv okej (endorsement; approval) · am እሺ (endorsement; approval) · th โอเค (endorsement; approval) · eo konsento (endorsement; approval)
Origin disputed. Wikipedia lists many possible etymologies, of which the most widely accepted is that it is an abbreviation of oll/orl korrect, a comical spelling of all correct, which first appeared in print in The Boston Morning Post on March 23, 1839, as part of a fad for similar fanciful abbreviations in the United States during the late 1830s. The expression became popular through its use in the presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren in 1840, who was nicknamed Old Kinderhook, and then slowly acquired other meanings.
The Choctaw word oke, okeh (“it is so”), common in Choctaw translations of the Bible, could also explain OK's variety of affirmative definitions. Additionally, okeh was the most common etymology of okay in dictionaries until the 1960s, and linguistically predates Boston's O.K.. However, this theory suffers from the fact that the Choctaw language was relatively obscure and generally spoken (sometimes in a pidgin form) mainly with African-American slaves.
Meanings
(transitive) To approve; to accept; to acquiesce to.
I don't want to OK this amount of money.
I'll need to OK that with my boss.
In the data case, Judge John Bates has OK’d four depositions, while green-lighting other discovery requests from the challengers. 2025 March 30, Tierney Sneed, “Is DOGE actually an agency? The answer could have major ramifications”, in CNN:
(transitive) To confirm by activating a button marked OK.
When you OK the crop, the image size will be adjusted to match the front image resolution. 2008, Martin Evening, Adobe Photoshop CS4 for Photographers:
Type a suitable name for your Marker and OK the dialogue box. 2001, Mike Collins, Pro Tools: Practical Recording, Editing and Mixing for Music Production:
es dar el visto bueno (to approve) · mk во ред (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sv godkänna (to approve) · sh u redu (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · lt gerai (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · cy cymeradwyo (to approve) · am እሺ (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sh уреду (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · as ঠিক (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · mn ТИЙМ (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · tr onaylamak (to approve) · nl OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ar موافق (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · yue 確定 /确定 (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · bn ঠিক আছে (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · be ОК (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fi hyväksyä (to approve) · sq në rregull (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hu OK-t nyom (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · kn ಸರಿ (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · de erlauben (to approve) · hu beleegyezik (to approve) · sh uredu (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · bg ОK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · lv LABI (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ja OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · lo ຕົກລົງ (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · nl akkoord (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · km យល់ព្រម (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hu leokéz (to approve) · hu OK-ra kattint (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · de absegnen (to approve) · ca d'acord (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fr valider (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sh potvrdi (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sw sawa (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fi hyväksyä (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · yue 确定 (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · th ตกลง (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ka კარგი (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ro OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · eo konsenti (to approve) · pa ਠੀਕ (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sh потврди (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fi OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ru ОК (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · nl akkoord (to approve) · de genehmigen (to approve) · fr donner son aval pour (to approve) · fr approuver (to approve) · af OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fr donner son accord pour (to approve) · el ΟΚ (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · id oke (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ta சரி (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · tr TAMAM (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hu leokéz (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · pl OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · et OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · tl OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · vi bấm OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · si හරි (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · de zustimmen (to approve) · ms OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fa تأیید (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · gu ઓકે (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · nb OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hu jóváhagy (to approve) · zh 確定 /确定 (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ur ٹھیک ہے (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · az ok (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · eu ados (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sl v redu (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · de OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sh у реду (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fr OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · he אישור (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · kk жарайды (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · sv OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · uz OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · gl aceptar (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · mk по́тврди (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ml ശരി (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · my OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · tr kabul etmek (to approve) · ko 확인 (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fr donner le/son feu vert pour (to approve) · vi nhấn OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ky OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · or ଠିକ୍ ଅଛି (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hu hozzájárul (to approve) · zh 确定 (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hi ठीक है (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · te సరే (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hu engedélyez (to approve) · sk OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · is í lagi (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · cs OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · cy clicio "iawn" (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · uk ОК (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · ne ठिक छ (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · hy հաստատել (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · da OK (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · kix nū (to approve) · mr ठीक आहे (computing: to activate the OK button — see also accept) · fr avaliser (to approve)