What does OK mean?

Question

Like, I've been saying it for years, and I never understood why it was OK. Like, why an O and a K? Do these letters stand for something? I've always wondered. I know it means alright and everything though, but I just don't get the O and the K part.

Answer 1

There are several versions of this. The one I tend to believe is that it comes from the Russian phrase "Ochen korosho", which means "very good".

Answer 2

OK actually means "okay", which according to dictionary.com means
n. pl. OK's or o·kays
Approval; agreement: Get your supervisor's OK before taking a day off.

adj.
Agreeable; acceptable: Was everything OK with your stay?
Satisfactory; good: an OK fellow.
Not excellent and not poor; mediocre: made an OK presentation.
In proper or satisfactory operational or working order: Is the battery OK?
Correct: That answer is OK.
Uninjured; safe: The skier fell but was OK.
Fairly healthy; well: Thanks to the medicine, the patient was OK.

Answer 3

The best I can do is a search on Dictionary.com:

1. all right; proceeding normally; satisfactory or under control: Things are OK at the moment.

2. correct, permissible, or acceptable; meeting standards: Is this suit OK to wear to a formal party?

3. doing well or in good health; managing adequately: She's been OK since the operation.

4. adequate but unexceptional or unremarkable; tolerable: The job they did was OK, nothing more.

5. estimable, dependable, or trustworthy; likable: an OK person.
– adverb

6. all right; well enough; successfully; fine: She'll manage OK on her own. He sings OK, but he can't tap dance.

7. (used as an affirmative response) yes; surely.

8. (used as an interrogative or interrogative tag) all right?; do you agree?
– interjection

9. (used to express agreement, understanding, acceptance, or the like): OK, I'll get it for you.

10. (used as an introductory or transitional expletive): OK, now where were we?
– noun

11. an approval, agreement, or endorsement: They gave their OK to her leave of absence.
– verb (used with object)

12. to put one's endorsement on or indicate one's approval of (a request, piece of copy, bank check, etc.); authorize; initial: Would you OK my application?

Any use?

Answer 4

According to the Oxford English Dictionary:

ORIGIN
mid 19th cent. (originally US): probably an abbreviation of orl korrect, humorous form of all correct, popularized as a slogan during President Van Buren's re-election campaign of 1840 in the US; his nickname Old Kinderhook (derived from his birthplace) provided the initials.

Answer 5

It means you're fine with it and that you have no definite stand (yes or no) on the issue at hand. Am I making sense here?

Answer 6

It is an abbreviation for
All Correct

In old english they sometimes spelled words differently and worked out the abbreviation to O. K.

Answer 7

There's no agreed upon origin but here's some theories:

German for alle klar (all clear)
Choctaw: okeh (it is so)
Obediah Kelly (postal worker who would put his initials on all postal boxes once he approved them)

Answer 8

It comes from Greek. "Ola Kala?" which translates as.... "All Good?"


p.s okay.... is actually O.K people think that 'okay' is a word and that "o.k" is short for 'okay' its not, 'okay' is completely made up because people forgot that 'o.k' was actually supposed to an abbreviation.

Answer 9

OK means fine or okay or yes. all the best hope you found your answer

Answer 10

sounds like you need to hop in my boat, ha'' without a paddle, ha'' o.k. means signed sealed and delivered, end of conversation or deal''/ put a lid on it/