rightful
- adjective
- /ˈraɪt.fəl/
- The museum returned the painting to its rightful owner after years of legal battles.
- rightful place
- rightful heir
- rightful owner
They marched onto the lawn, and even while getting water thrown at them, they raised the American flag back to its rightful place.
- They marched onto the lawn, and even while getting water thrown at them, they raised the American flag back to its rightful place.
Examples
-
The woman composes herself and returns the chairs to their rightful places, then walks off.
Fiction book (1999) -
Do these students truly have a rightful place in the community college ranks?
Academic text (1991) -
- Bringing the hat back to its rightful home.
-
The book will tell me whether or not you have a rightful place.
-
Now the way was clear for David to assume his rightful place as king over all of Israel!
Fiction book (2001) -
"The time has come for Japan to assume its rightful place in the world," the prime minister said.
Fiction book (1999) -
I'm the rightful ruler of England.
-
Far more numerous, they demanded their rightful share of control within the most important religious associations.
Academic text (1994) -
And I'll reclaim my rightful place in the spotlight.
-
Pamela's convinced he'll someday leave his wife and take his rightful place at her side.
Fiction book (1999)
Synonyms
Recognized as real, for example an owner or heir
Allowed by law or fair rules
Allowed by the law
Fair and morally right
Has the right by law or rules to receive something
Antonyms
Compounds
How Rightful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Rightful comes from the common word right, meaning 'just' or 'correct', plus the ending -ful, meaning 'full of' or 'having', as in helpful. So, rightful describes someone who 'has' the legal or moral right to something.