WordReference can't find this exact phrase, but click on each word to see its meaning:

be wrong


We could not find the full phrase you were looking for.
The entry for "wrong" is displayed below.

Also see: be

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
wrong /rɔŋ, rɑŋ/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. being in error;
    mistaken;
    not correct:a wrong answer.
  2. not agreeing with truth or fact;
    incorrect:Their theory about how the universe began was just plain wrong.
  3. not in agreement with what is morally right;
    evil;
    bad:[be + ~]Stealing and murder are wrong.[It + be + ~ + to + verb]It's wrong to steal and commit murder.
  4. not proper;
    unsuitable:Those are definitely the wrong shoes for that dress.
  5. out of order;
    amiss.

n. [countable]
  1. something improper, immoral, unjust, or harmful:a series of wrongs committed against them just because they were different.

adv. 
  1. in a wrong manner:I did it all wrong. Did I pronounce your name wrong?

v. [~ + object]
  1. to do wrong to;
    harm.
  2. to think badly of (someone) unjustly or unfairly.
Idioms
  1. Idioms go wrong, [no object]
    • to go badly;
      fail:Everything went wrong with my computer after I installed that new program.
    • to follow an undesirable or evil course:Bad friends caused him to go wrong.
  2. Idioms in the wrong, at fault.

wrong•ly, adv.: She was wrongly accused.
wrong•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
wrong  (rông, rong),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. not in accordance with what is morally right or good:a wrong deed.
  2. deviating from truth or fact;
    erroneous:a wrong answer.
  3. not correct in action, judgment, opinion, method, etc., as a person;
    in error:You are wrong to blame him.
  4. not proper or usual;
    not in accordance with requirements or recommended practice:the wrong way to hold a golf club.
  5. out of order;
    awry;
    amiss:Something is wrong with the machine.
  6. not suitable or appropriate:He always says the wrong thing.
  7. (of clothing) that should be worn or kept inward or under:You're wearing the sweater wrong side out.

n. 
  1. that which is wrong, or not in accordance with morality, goodness, or truth;
    evil:I committed many wrongs.
  2. an injustice:The wrongs they suffered aged them.
  3. Law, Sex and Gender
    • Lawan invasion of another's right, to his damage.
    • a tort.
  4. Slang Terms get in wrong, to cause to come into disfavor:We are forever getting in wrong with the people next door.
  5. in the wrong, to blame;
    in error:He knew he was in the wrong but refused to concede the point.

adv. 
  1. in a wrong manner;
    not rightly;
    awry;
    amiss:You did it wrong again.
  2. go wrong:
    • to go amiss;
      fail:Everything is going wrong today.
    • to pursue an immoral course;
      become depraved:Bad friends caused him to go wrong.

v.t. 
  1. to do wrong to;
    treat unfairly or unjustly;
    harm.
  2. to impute evil to (someone) unjustly;
    malign.
  • Old Danish wrang; compare Danish vrang wrong, Old Norse rangr awry; (verb, verbal and adverb, adverbial) Middle English, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English wrang, derivative of the adjective, adjectival; akin to wring
  • (adjective, adjectival) Middle English wrong, wrang, Old English wrang, perh. bef. 1100
wrong′er, n. 
wrong′ly, adv. 
wrong′ness, n. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bad, evil, wicked, sinful, immoral, iniquitous, reprehensible, crooked.
    • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inaccurate, incorrect, false, untrue, mistaken.
    • 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged improper, unsuitable.
    • 8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged misdoing, wickedness, sin, vice.
    • 15.See corresponding entry in Unabridged maltreat, abuse, oppress, cheat, defraud, dishonor.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
wrong / rɒŋ/
  1. not correct or truthful: the wrong answer
  2. acting or judging in error: you are wrong to think that
  3. (postpositive) immoral; bad: it is wrong to cheat
  4. deviating from or unacceptable to correct or conventional laws, usage, etc
  5. not intended or wanted: the wrong road
  6. (postpositive) not working properly; amiss: something is wrong with the engine
  7. (of a side, esp of a fabric) intended to face the inside so as not to be seen
  8. get on the wrong side of, get in wrong with ⇒ to come into disfavour with
  9. go down the wrong way ⇒ (of food) to pass into the windpipe instead of the gullet
  1. in the wrong direction or manner
  2. go wrong ⇒ to turn out other than intended
  3. to make a mistake
  4. (of a machine, etc) to cease to function properly
  5. to go astray morally
  6. get wrong ⇒ to fail to understand properly
  7. to fail to provide the correct answer to
  1. a bad, immoral, or unjust thing or action
  2. an infringement of another person's rights, rendering the offender liable to a civil action, as for breach of contract or tort: a private wrong
  3. a violation of public rights and duties, affecting the community as a whole and actionable at the instance of the Crown
  4. in the wrong ⇒ mistaken or guilty
 (transitive)
  1. to treat unjustly
  2. to discredit, malign, or misrepresent
  3. to seduce or violate
Etymology: Old English wrang injustice, from Old Norse vrang; see wringˈwrongerˈwronglyˈwrongness
'be wrong' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Reverend - alright - argue - confute - convince - fault - may

Forum discussions with the word(s) "be wrong" in the title:


Look up "be wrong" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "be wrong" at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.