Meaning & use
wrong
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not correct or true; mistaken.
Grammar: Follows be or comes before a noun: the wrong answer; I was wrong.
Patterns
- be wrong about something
- the wrong answer
I was wrong about the date.
She gave the wrong answer.
You've dialed the wrong number.
adjectiveafter a verb
Morally bad, unfair or against the rules.
Grammar: Often with it: it is wrong to cheat.
Patterns
- it is wrong to do something
- be wrong of someone
It is wrong to take what isn't yours.
He knew that lying was wrong.
It was wrong of them to ignore her.
adjectivecomparable
Not suitable or not as it should be.
Grammar: Used with what or something: what's wrong with it?
Patterns
- something is wrong with someone
- the wrong time
Something is wrong with the engine.
You came at the wrong time.
What's wrong with the soup?
adverbnot comparable
Incorrectly or in a mistaken way.
Grammar: Comes after the verb: spell it wrong.
Patterns
- go wrong
- get something wrong
I spelled her name wrong.
Everything went wrong that day.
You guessed wrong.
nouncountable or uncountable
An unjust or harmful act, or behavior that breaks moral rules.
Grammar: As in right and wrong; a wrong can be righted.
Patterns
- right and wrong
- do wrong
Children learn the difference between right and wrong.
He tried to right the wrongs of the past.
verbtransitiveformal
To treat someone unfairly or harm them by a bad act.
Grammar: Takes a person as object: wrong someone.
Patterns
- wrong someone
He felt the company had wronged him.
She wronged her friend by spreading the rumor.
Word forms
| comparative | wronger |
|---|---|
| superlative | wrongest |
| third person singular | wrongs |
| past tense | wronged |
| past participle | wronged |
| -ing form | wronging |
| plural | wrongs |
Common combinations
- dead wrong
- You were dead wrong about that.
- go wrong
- Check the steps so nothing goes wrong.
- prove someone wrong
- She worked hard to prove them wrong.
- the wrong way
- You are holding it the wrong way up.
Synonyms and how they differ
- incorrect
- More formal and only about facts or answers.
- mistaken
- Describes a person who believes something false.
- immoral
- Stronger and only about ethics.
- improper
- About rules or manners, not truth.
Opposites
Word family
- wrongly adverb
- in a mistaken or unfair way
- wrongdoing noun
- illegal or immoral behavior
- wrongful adjective
- unfair or illegal
Commonly confused: wrong or rong?
wrong vs rong
Not a word; always spell it wrong, with a silent w.
Practice
I think you've taken the ___ turn; the station is back the other way.
Choose one answer.
Wrong is the adjective needed before the noun turn. Wrongly is an adverb, and the others do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wrong”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.