straightening

/ˈstreɪ.tən/ (bre, ipa) · [strˈetənɪŋ] /ˈstreɪ.ən/ (ame, ipa)

straightening — verb

  • straighteningpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • straightenings3rd person singular
  • straighteninging-ing form
  • straighteningedpast simple

1. to put a bent or twisted thing back into a straight shape, or for it to return t

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to put a bent or twisted thing back into a straight shape, or for it to return to that shape by itself.

例句

Eshe was straightening the bent curtain rod before her aunt arrived.

straighten + bent object

After lunch, Arjun spent ten minutes straightening the twisted phone charger cable.

collocation: straighten a cable or wire

同義詞
  • unbend

    focuses on removing a bend, especially from one object

  • untwist

    fits objects turned around themselves rather than simply bent

  • smooth out

    more often used for wrinkles, folds, or creases

反義詞
  • bend

    to make something no longer straight

  • twist

    to turn something into a crooked shape

文法句型

straighten + object

subject + straighten (intransitive)

straighten + object + before/after + event

用法筆記

This sense works both transitively and intransitively. With a person as subject, it usually describes deliberate correction; with the object as subject, it shows the shape changing on its own.

常見錯誤

❌She was making the hanger straight again.
✅She was straightening the hanger.
💡English normally uses the single verb 'straighten' for this action.

2. to adjust something so it lies flat or sits evenly instead of looking crooked, r

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to adjust something so it lies flat or sits evenly instead of looking crooked, raised, or slanted.

例句

Rachel is straightening the hallway rug so nobody trips on the raised edge.

straighten a rug so it lies flat

Constanza spent the morning straightening the poster corners with clear tape.

straighten corners that curl up

同義詞
  • level

    more technical and often used for accurate measurement

  • flatten

    emphasises pressing something down rather than aligning it

  • align

    focuses on matching items to each other in a straight line

反義詞
  • tilt

    to make something slope to one side

  • skew

    to place something at an angle

文法句型

straighten + rug / frame / poster / row

straighten + object + until + result

用法筆記

Usually used for rugs, posters, frames, chairs, and similar things that look uneven in position. Unlike sense 3, it focuses on making one object or line sit properly, not on arranging a whole space.

常見錯誤

❌Rachel was straightening the dirty rug' when you mean washing it.
✅Rachel was cleaning the rug.
💡This sense is about position and flatness, not removing dirt.

3. to put things back into neat order so a space looks organised again instead of m

3.動詞及物B1
釋義

to put things back into neat order so a space looks organised again instead of messy.

例句

Nellie is straightening the front desk area before the first patients arrive.

straighten a work area before visitors come

After the birthday party, Tariq spent an hour straightening the living room.

straighten a room after people leave

同義詞
  • tidy

    very close in meaning, especially for rooms and household spaces

  • neaten

    slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • organise

    broader and can include deciding a better system, not just restoring order

反義詞
  • mess up

    to make a place untidy again

  • scatter

    to leave things spread around in no order

文法句型

straighten + room / desk / shelf

straighten + area + before + event

用法筆記

The object is usually a room, desk, shelf, or group of items. Unlike sense 2, this sense is about restoring order to many things in one place, not just making one object lie flat.

常見錯誤

❌I was cleaning my desk' when you only mean arranging the papers.
✅I was straightening my desk.
💡'clean' suggests removing dirt, while 'straighten' here means putting things back in order.