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straight‧en
1 [intransitive and transitive] also straighten out to become straight, or to make something straight : Can you straighten your leg?
Can you straighten your leg?2 [intransitive] also straighten up to make your back straight, or to stand up straight after bending down
3 [transitive] also straighten up to make something tidy : Mum told me to straighten my room.
Mum told me to straighten my room.straighten out
phrasal verb1 to deal with problems or a confused situation and make it better, especially by organizing things [= sort out]: There are several financial problems that need to be straightened out quickly.
straighten something ↔ out
There are several financial problems that need to be straightened out quickly.2 to become straight, or to make something straight : The path soon bends to the right then straightens out.
The path soon bends to the right then straightens out. straighten something ↔ out She straightened out her legs.
She straightened out her legs.3 to improve your bad behaviour or deal with personal problems, or to help someone do this : He straightened out when he joined the army.
He straightened out when he joined the army.straighten up
phrasal verb1 to make your back straight, or to stand up straight after bending down : He remained bent over for several seconds before slowly straightening up.
He remained bent over for several seconds before slowly straightening up.3 American English to begin to behave well after behaving badly : You'd better straighten up, young lady!
You'd better straighten up, young lady!