quite

[ kwahyt ]

adverb

1. completely, wholly, or entirely:

   quite the reverse;

   not quite finished.

2. actually, really, or truly:

   quite a sudden change.

3. to a considerable extent or degree:

   quite small;

   quite objectionable.

quite

/ kwaɪt /

adverb

1. to the greatest extent; completely or absolutely

   quite the opposite

   you're quite right

2. not used with a negative to a noticeable or partial extent; somewhat

   she's quite pretty

3. in actuality; truly

   it's quite the thing to do

   he thought the bag was heavy, but it was quite light

4. quite a
   quite a not used with a negative of an exceptional, considerable, or noticeable kind

   quite a girl

   quite a long walk

5. quite something
   quite something a remarkable or noteworthy thing or person

sentence substitute

1. Alsoquite so an expression used to indicate agreement or assent

Usage

See very

Word History and Origins

Origin of quite¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, adverb use of quit(e), a variant of quit(te) quit ¹; the meaning of the two forms was not distinct in Middle English

Word History and Origins

Origin of quite¹

C14: adverbial use of quite (adj) quit

Example Sentences

None of these, though, has inspired quite the same backlash as fluoride.

From The Daily Beast

The benefits of incumbency are quite potent, especially in the all-important area of raising campaign funds.

From The Daily Beast

The media tend to frame situations like this as aberrations, but in this case, quite the opposite is the truth.

From The Daily Beast

You have to acknowledge your age and position in life, for me quite a lot of those emotionally fueled songs were hormone songs.

From The Daily Beast

But quite unlike the schmuck, and this is the fun part, they never run up the white flag; indeed quite the opposite.

From The Daily Beast

Mrs. Wurzel was quite right; they had been supplied, regardless of cost, from Messrs. Rochet and Stole's well-known establishment.

From Project Gutenberg

She is quite true, but not wise, and your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing.

From Project Gutenberg

Solely over one man therein thou hast quite absolute control.

From Project Gutenberg

And furthermore, I imagine something else about this—quite unlike the old Bible—I imagine all of it periodically revised.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes the stems are quite bare; on other occasions they are partly branched; in any case the branches are short.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absolutely
• actually
• altogether
• entirely
• fully
• largely
• perfectly
• really
• thoroughly
• totally
• truly
• utterly
• wholly