# straighten

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈstɹeɪtn̩/ · frequency rank #20,508

## Definitions
1. To cause to become straight.
2. To become straight.
3. To put in order; to sort; to tidy up.
4. To clarify a situation or concept to (an audience).
5. To bribe or corrupt.
6. To stand up, especially from a sitting position.
7. To make heterosexual.

## Etymology
From straight + -en. Compare Scots strauchten (“to straighten”).

## Easily confused with
- **straighter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/straighten-vs-straighter)
- **straight** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/straight-vs-straighten)

## Common misspellings (16)
`srtaighten`, `sstraighten`, `starighten`, `stragihten`, `straigghten`, `straighetn`, `straighhten`, `straightenn`, `straightne`, `straightten`, `straigthen`, `straihgten`, `striaghten`, `strraighten`, `sttraighten`, `tsraighten`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/straighten