okay

Okay is a common word in English that functions as an interjection, an adjective, or an adverb. As an interjection it signals assent, acknowledgment, or willingness to proceed. As an adjective or adverb it can mean satisfactory or acceptable, e.g., "The plan is okay" or "That's okay with me." In discourse, speakers use it to manage conversational flow, mark agreement, or soften statements.

The abbreviation OK traces to the 1830s in the United States, derived from "oll korrect," a humorous misspelling of "all correct" that appeared in newspapers and political campaigns, notably in connection with the 1840 U.S. presidential campaign of Martin Van Buren (the "Old Kinderhook" candidate). The form OK gained popularity in print and later as a ubiquitous acronym, while the expanded spelling "okay" appeared in the early 20th century and is now common in many varieties of English.

OK is highly versatile but generally informal. In formal writing, "okay" may be seen as casual; alternatives include "acceptable" or "proceed." Tone matters: "Okay" can be neutral, but intonation can convey reluctance, sarcasm, or enthusiasm. In digital communication, "OK" or "okay" is often used as a standalone response or as a hedge in requests.

Spelling variants include OK, okay, and okay; capitalization varies by context. The word has been integrated into many languages as a loanword, often adapted as "ok" or "okej" with local pronunciations; in some languages, native equivalents exist but the English form is widely understood, especially in international communication.