This article studies the different uses of the adverb right in the history of the English language. Using data from the Helsinki Corpus, it is shown that the different synchronic functions identified for Present-Day English right – namely adjunct, modifier and discourse marker – can be said to represent different degrees of grammaticalization. The function closer to the lexical pole, that of adjunct, is also the oldest one, while the more grammaticalized functions of modifier and discourse marker emerge later and are the prevalent uses of the form nowadays. In this connection, the article provides further evidence of the specialization of so-called zero adverbs in grammatical functions. It is argued here that the discourse marker right, although remarkably similar in behaviour to adverbs like certainly or well, is more likely to have developed from the corresponding adjective.