Skip to main content
a-okay

a-okay

2 7.8
In perfect condition and ready to use
  • adjective
  • /eɪ oʊˈkeɪ/
  • Informal
: todo bien
  • Her report was a-okay, meeting all the requirements set by the teacher.

Examples

Synonyms

great
vsa-okay
∞ 1.0

Very good or excellent in quality

leans more toward complete perfection and faultless condition
fine
vsa-okay
∞ 1.0

In good enough condition so no one needs to worry

implies a stronger sense of perfect condition and total satisfaction
okay
vsa-okay
∞ 1.0

Good enough but not very good

emphasizes flawless condition and total satisfactory status
all right
vsa-okay
∞ 1.0

Feeling healthy or good enough to use

moves beyond adequacy to indicate complete, flawless condition
OK
vsa-okay
∞ 1.0

Good enough for the purpose you need

indicates a higher standard of being perfectly in order and satisfactory
excellent
vsa-okay
∞ 1.0

Very good and better than most similar things

highlights perfect order and total satisfactory state rather than general excellence
good enough
vsa-okay
675 1.9

Not perfect but good for what you need

raises this to complete perfection and full satisfactory condition
decent
vsa-okay
526 2.3

Good enough in quality to meet normal needs

asserts a higher bar of being completely flawless and satisfactory
acceptable
vsa-okay
392 2.5

Good enough for a particular use or standard

indicates full flawless condition and complete readiness
good
vsa-okay
318 1.0

Still valid and legally accepted for use

refers more to flawless condition and full satisfactory state
adequate
vsa-okay
204 2.7

Enough in amount or quality to meet a need

focuses instead on flawless condition rather than mere sufficiency
satisfactory
vsa-okay
73 2.3

Good enough to meet a need but not very good

asserts a full, perfect state and complete faultless quality
ace
vsa-okay
  • UK
28 5.0

Very good and of the highest quality

stresses being in perfect working order rather than just top quality
ok
vsa-okay
22 1.0

Good enough but not very good

asserts full perfection and complete satisfaction rather than mere adequacy
A-OK
vsa-okay
  • Informal
17 7.2

In perfect condition and working as it should

is identical in meaning but differs in written form
copacetic
vsa-okay
  • Slang
6 9.6

Completely fine and working as needed

places slightly more stress on flawless, perfect condition
copasetic
vsa-okay
  • Slang
3 9.9

In very good order and working as it should

focuses on absolute perfection of condition rather than general praise
A-one
vsa-okay
  • Archaic
2 7.9

Of very high quality, like top service or care

emphasizes flawless condition and complete satisfactory performance

Antonyms

69 3.9

Having a fault that makes something not work properly

Not good enough to be acceptable

12 4.5

Not as good as people expect

How Good

excellent
∞ 1.0
a-okay
  • Informal
2 7.8
good
∞ 1.0
okay
∞ 1.0
acceptable
392 2.5

Surface Forms

a-okay positive
okay positive

Morphology

a-okay = okay (semi-transparent) = a + okay

The connection to 'okay' is clear, but the prefixed 'a-' is mainly colloquial and emphatic rather than a regular productive prefix with a stable meaning.

Etymology

A-okay probably comes from the short radio phrase A-OK, which pilots and later NASA used to say a system was 'perfect' or 'clear'. So today a-okay means 'in perfect condition' or completely satisfactory.