We useokay(also speltOK) in informal language. We use it in different ways, as a discourse marker, adjective or adverb.
Okayas a discourse marker
Agreeing
We useokayas a response token to show that we understand, accept, or agree with what someone is saying:
A:I’ll see you at 5 in front of the library.
B:OK.See you later.
A:Why don’t you get a lift with Raviv?
B:Oh,okay.
Changing topic or closing a conversation
We often useokayto show that we are moving on to a new topic or phase of conversation. This is common in situations where we are giving instructions:
Okay, let’s get into groups of four now.
[piano teacher to pupil]
OK, right, let’s see. Now, keep that hand ready, so it’s there when you want it.
We also useokayto mark the end of a conversation:
Right,okay, take care of yourself. Bye.
Checking understanding
We often useokay?to check understanding. We usually put it in end position:
I know it’s difficult to talk … just nod or shake your head.OK?
Tie it the opposite way … just like tying a shoelace really,okay?
Okayas an adjective
We oftenuseokayas an adjective to say that something is not a problem, it’s ‘all right’:
A:Thanks for helping me out.
B:That’sOK.No problem.
A:Sorry to keep you waiting.
B:It’sokay.
‘It’sOK, just tell me what to do,’ I said. I think I was a bit afraid, but I was trying to sound calm.
We often useokayto talk about our health:
A:How are you?
B:I’mokay,thanks.
[talking about someone who has been very ill]
She’s going to beOK.
We useokayto say that a situation or state is satisfactory, neither very good or very bad:
‘What do you think of my plans?’ ‘They’reokay,’ Jenny said unenthusiastically.
Okayas an adverb
Okayis used as anadverb in informal speech, meaning ‘all right’, ‘neither well nor badly’:
Even though I had never slept in a tent, in a sleeping bag or had any experience canoeing, I didOK.
The Internet was down all morning, but it seems to be workingokaynow.
See also:
Discourse markers (so, right, okay)
All rightandalright