fine

[ fahyn ]

/ faɪn /

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See synonyms for: fine / finer / finest / fines on Thesaurus.com

adjective, fin·er, fin·est.

of superior or best quality; of high or highest grade: fine wine.

choice, excellent, or admirable: a fine painting.

satisfactory or acceptable; okay: It's fine with me if you don't want to go.The story is fine for a class assignment but not good enough to publish in the school paper.

consisting of minute particles: fine sand;a fine purée.

very thin or slender: fine thread.

keen or sharp, as a tool: Is the knife fine enough to carve well?

delicate in texture; filmy: fine cotton fabric.

delicately fashioned: fine tracery.

highly skilled or accomplished: a fine musician.

trained to the maximum degree, as an athlete.

characterized by or affecting refinement or elegance: a fine lady.

polished or refined: fine manners.

affectedly ornate or elegant: A style so fine repels the average reader.

delicate or subtle: a fine distinction.

bright and clear: a fine day;fine skin.

healthy; well: In spite of his recent illness, he looks fine.

showy or smart; elegant in appearance: a bird of fine plumage.

good-looking or handsome: a fine young man.

(of a precious metal or its alloy) free from impurities or containing a large amount of pure metal: fine gold; Sterling silver is 92.5 percent fine.

(used ironically or as an intensifier) terrible or unacceptable: It’s a fine mess you’ve got us into!Not inviting me—that’s a fine way to treat a friend!

adverb

Informal. in an excellent manner; very well: She's now free of pain and can walk just fine.

Informal. satisfactorily; acceptably: I did fine but not great on my final exams.

very small: She writes so fine I can hardly read it.

Billiards, Pool. in such a way that the driven ball barely touches the object ball in passing.

Nautical. as efficiently close as possible into the wind, just short of pinching: sailing fine.

verb (used without object), fined, fin·ing.

to become fine or finer, as by refining.

to become less, as in size or proportions; reduce; diminish (often followed by down): The plumpness fines down with exercise.

verb (used with object), fined, fin·ing.

to make fine or finer, especially by refining or pulverizing.

to reduce the size or proportions of (often used with down or away): to fine down the heavy features; to fine away superfluous matter in a design.

to clarify (wines or spirits) by filtration.

noun

fines,

Mining. crushed ore sufficiently fine to pass through a given screen.Compare short (def. 29e).
Agriculture. the fine bits of corn kernel knocked off during handling of the grain.

OTHER WORDS FOR fine

1 finished, consummate, perfect; select.

4 powdered, pulverized.

6 acute.

See synonyms for fine on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR fine

1 inferior.

See antonyms for fine on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about fine

cut fine, to calculate precisely, especially without allowing for possible error or accident: To finish in ten minutes is to cut it too fine.

Origin of fine

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ffyn, fin, fyin, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin finus “pure, fine,” from Latin fīnis “end, utmost limit, highest point” (as in fīnis bonōrum et malōrum “the highest good and evil”)

synonym study for fine

1. Fine, choice, elegant, exquisite are terms of praise with reference to quality. Fine is a general term: a fine horse, person, book. Choice implies a discriminating selection of the object in question: a choice piece of steak. Elegant suggests a refined and graceful superiority that is generally associated with luxury and a cultivated taste: elegant furnishings. Exquisite suggests an admirable delicacy, finish, or perfection: an exquisite piece of lace.

Words nearby fine

find oneself, find one's way, find out, find the lady, find true north, fine, fineable, fine and dandy, fine art, fine arts, fine bouche

Other definitions for fine (2 of 4)

fine²

[ fahyn ]

/ faɪn /

noun

a sum of money imposed as a penalty for an offense or dereliction: a parking fine.

Law. a fee paid by a feudal tenant to the landlord, as on the renewal of tenure.

English Law. (formerly) a conveyance of land through decree of a court, based upon a simulated lawsuit.

Archaic. a penalty of any kind.

verb (used with object), fined, fin·ing.

to subject to a fine or pecuniary penalty; punish by a fine: The judge fined him and released him on parole.

Origin of fine

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English fin, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin fīnis “end,” Medieval Latin: “settlement, payment”

Other definitions for fine (3 of 4)

fine³

[ fee-ney ]

/ ˈfi neɪ /

noun Music.

the end of a repeated section, whether da capo or dal segno.

the end of a composition that consists of several movements.

Origin of fine

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Italian, from Latin fīnis “end”

Other definitions for fine (4 of 4)

fine⁴

[ feen ]

/ fin /

noun

ordinary French brandy, usually with no indication of the maker's name or location.

Origin of fine

⁴

First recorded in 1920–25; short for French fine (champagne) de la maison “bar brandy”; cf. Fine Champagne

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fine in a sentence

Target was fined for not enforcing the county’s mask law and citations were mailed to the protesters, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported.
Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider does not approve of anti-maskers using ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’|radmarya|September 17, 2020|Fortune
Now, for most general purposes, stock tires will work fine, especially if you have a winch.
Six ways to make your ATV even more rugged|By Tyler Freel/Outdoor Life|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
The state’s environmental regulators are seen as friendly to coal companies, so the reduced fines are in keeping with prior actions.
This Billionaire Governor’s Coal Company Might Get a Big Break From His Own Regulators|by Ken Ward Jr.|September 17, 2020|ProPublica
Repeating the process, he smoothed the lattice’s fine details, zooming out to grok the system’s overall behavior.
How Mathematical ‘Hocus-Pocus’ Saved Particle Physics|Charlie Wood|September 17, 2020|Quanta Magazine

So let’s see what happens, but I think it’s going to work out fine.
Timeline: The 124 times Trump has downplayed the coronavirus threat|Aaron Blake, JM Rieger|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
As this list shows, punishments typically run to a short-ish jail sentence and/or a moderately hefty fine.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Hey, whatever keeps those lecherous freaks from sexually assaulting humans is fine by us.
Zebra Finches, Dolphins, Elephants, and More Animals Under the Influence|Bill Schulz|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are instances in which private rehoming works out fine and is the best solution for the struggling family and the children.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That's fine—excellent TV shows are snubbed all the time by these awards organizations.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The exhibit also includes examples of designers borrowing from fine art, as Yves Saint Laurent did with his Mondrian dress.
The Big Business of Fashion Counterfeits|Lizzie Crocker|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
A flash of surprise and pleasure lit the fine eyes of the haughty beauty perched up there on the palace wall.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
His strong legs and his broad, spade-like feet helped to make him a fine swimmer.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
When the days were fine, Jean in his basket assisted at the dramatic performance in the market-place.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for fine (1 of 4)

fine¹

/ (faɪn) /

adjective

excellent or choice in quality; very good of its kinda fine speech

superior in skill, ability, or accomplishmenta fine violinist

(of weather) clear and dry

enjoyable or satisfyinga fine time

(postpositive) informal quite well; in satisfactory healthI feel fine

satisfactory; acceptablethat's fine by me

of delicate composition or careful workmanshipfine crystal

(of precious metals) pure or having a high or specified degree of purityfine silver; gold 98 per cent fine

subtle in perception; discriminatinga fine eye for antique brasses

abstruse or subtlea fine point in argument

very thin or slenderfine hair

very smallfine dust; fine print

(of edges, blades, etc) sharp; keen

ornate, showy, or smart

good-looking; handsomea fine young woman

polished, elegant, or refineda fine gentleman

morally upright and commendablea fine man

cricket (of a fielding position) oblique to and behind the wicketfine leg

(prenominal) informal disappointing or terriblea fine mess

adverb

informal quite well; all rightthat suits me fine

a nonstandard word for finely

billiards snooker (of a stroke on the cue ball) so as to merely brush the object ball

cut it fine to allow little margin of time, space, etc

verb

to make or become finer; refine

(often foll by down or away) to make or become smaller

(tr) to clarify (wine, etc) by adding finings

(tr) billiards snooker to hit (a cue ball) fine

(intr foll by up) Australian and NZ informal (of the weather) to become fine

Word Origin for fine

C13: from Old French fin, from Latin fīnis end, boundary, as in fīnis honōrum the highest degree of honour

British Dictionary definitions for fine (2 of 4)

fine²

/ (faɪn) /

noun

a certain amount of money exacted as a penaltya parking fine

a payment made by a tenant at the start of his tenancy to reduce his subsequent rent; premium

feudal law a sum of money paid by a man to his lord, esp for the privilege of transferring his land to another

a method of transferring land in England by bringing a fictitious law suit: abolished 1833

in fine

in short; briefly
in conclusion; finally

verb

(tr) to impose a fine on

Word Origin for fine

C12 (in the sense: conclusion, settlement): from Old French fin; see fine 1

British Dictionary definitions for fine (3 of 4)

fine³

/ (ˈfiːneɪ) /

noun music

the point at which a piece is to end, usually after a da capo or dal segno

an ending or finale

Word Origin for fine

Italian, from Latin fīnis end

British Dictionary definitions for fine (4 of 4)

fine⁴

/ French (fin) /

noun

brandy of ordinary quality

Word Origin for fine

literally: fine

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with fine

fine

In addition to the idioms beginning with fine

fine and dandy
fine art

also see:

come on in (the water's fine)
cut it fine
in fine feather

fine

OTHER WORDS FOR fine

OPPOSITES FOR fine

Idioms about fine

Origin of fine

synonym study for fine

Words nearby fine

Other definitions for fine (2 of 4)

Origin of fine

Other definitions for fine (3 of 4)

Origin of fine

Other definitions for fine (4 of 4)

Origin of fine

Words related to fine

How to use fine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fine (1 of 4)

Word Origin for fine

British Dictionary definitions for fine (2 of 4)

Word Origin for fine

British Dictionary definitions for fine (3 of 4)

Word Origin for fine

British Dictionary definitions for fine (4 of 4)

Word Origin for fine

Other Idioms and Phrases with fine