OK! OK? OK: the many ways we use “OK”
In this post I will look at the many ways we can use the word OK.
You might love it, you might hate it, but you have to agree that OK is universal. It is probably the most popular export that the English language has given the world and other languages. People everywhere instantly recognise and understand it.
One of the reasons OK is so popular is its simplicity:
- OK is short and is easy to pronounce
- OK is quick and easy to write (we can also spell it O.K. and okay).
You yourself probably use it many times each day, either in English or in your own language. You most likely use it as an adjective, saying ‘It’s ok’ or ‘Are you OK?’ But do you (and can you) use OK in its other grammatical forms?
OK as an adjective
This is the most common usage.
The food was OK = ‘It wasn’t bad; ‘It was acceptable’.
I’m OK = ‘I feel fine’; ‘I’m not bad, thanks’.
OK as a verb
My boss OKed (or okayed) the transaction = ‘My boss approved it’.
OK as a noun
I need the OK from my boss = ‘I need my boss’s approval’; ‘I need permission from him’.
He gave me the OK = ‘He gave me permission to continue’.
OK as an adverb
Liverpool played OK but they lost = ‘They played quite well’.
Did you sleep OK? = ‘Did you sleep well?’
OK as a filler / to start a sentence
OK, can you all listen, please? = to inform listeners that you want to take action or say something.
OK as a simple question
I’ll do it like this. OK? = ‘Do you agree with me?’; ‘Is that acceptable?’
However we use it, we should remember that OK is informal. In formal situations—business correspondence, for instance—a synonym is often more suitable.
There are many more synonyms for OK, and, quite possibly, more ways of using it. I have given the most common uses here.
How often is OK used in your language? Or do you prefer another word? Feel free to leave a comment below.
Robbie - February 15, 2012, 8:48 pm
I use ok all the time. But what does ok mean? Is it an abbreviation? Of what words?
Stuart Cook - February 15, 2012, 9:53 pm
OK is such a common word but I don’t think anybody is totally sure of its origins. Some sources say it was an abbreviation of someone’s name, and it later came to be known as a mark of quality. It’s been used since the nineteenth century.
Alex - February 19, 2012, 12:34 am
I know another story about the word ok. during the war the armies returning without any dead soldier was placed in a zero dead board, which then contracted ok
Cubby - December 27, 2020, 4:39 am
okay is the word that it is an abbreviation for.
Benildo Alfredo Munaco Agostinho - February 16, 2012, 12:23 pm
If we do not use the word OK, can we use other word with the same meaning?
Stuart Cook - February 16, 2012, 1:58 pm
Benildo,
Yes, instead of OK you can use another word with the same meaning. In many cases you will be expressing yourself better.
Some people are critical of OK, saying that it is used too much.
Rocío - February 29, 2012, 1:10 am
Also if you tilt your head to the left… It’s a stickman OK. See what I did there?
This is a great blog!
Reggie - July 10, 2012, 5:36 pm
I am a childcare tecaher and the teacher’s use the wrod Ok alot. Is it appropiate to use the word OK when speaking to a child asking them to do or not to do something. Example: “I don’t want you to put your fet on the table ok”. Another example is, “Put your toys away ok”.
Reggie - July 10, 2012, 5:39 pm
I am a childcare teacher and the teacher’s uses the word Ok . Is it appropriate to use the word OK when speaking to a child asking them to do or not to do something. Example: “I don’t want you to put your feet on the table ok”. Another example is, “Put your toys away ok”.
Anees NT - January 15, 2015, 9:50 am
I would like to share my suggestion about the expandable form of OK. I have noticed by my language instructor that it is ALL CORRECT. being used tuns of time, gradually started using abbreviated with the words heard while sound it (Oll Korrect). 😛