pretty

[prit-ee]

See more synonyms for pretty on Thesaurus.com

adjective, pret·ti·er, pret·ti·est.

pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness: a pretty face.
(of things, places, etc.) pleasing to the eye, especially without grandeur.
pleasing to the ear: a pretty tune.

pleasing to the mind or aesthetic taste: He writes pretty little stories.
(often used ironically) fine; grand: This is a pretty mess!
Informal. considerable; fairly great: This accident will cost him a pretty sum.
Archaic or Scot.. brave; hardy.

noun, plural pret·ties.

Usually pretties. pretty ornaments, clothes, etc.
a pretty person: Sit down, my pretty.

adverb

fairly or moderately: Her work was pretty good.
quite; very: The wind blew pretty hard.
Informal. prettily.

verb (used with object), pret·tied, pret·ty·ing.

to make pretty; improve the appearance of (sometimes followed by up): to pretty oneself for a party; to pretty up a room.

Idioms

sitting pretty, Informal.
1. in an advantageous position.
2. well-to-do; successful.

Origin of pretty

before 1000; Middle English prati(e), pratte, prettie cunning, gallant, fine, handsome, pretty; Old English prættig, prettī cunning, derivative of prǣtt a trick, wile (cognate with Dutch part, pret trick, prank, Old Norse prettr trick, prettugr tricky)

Related formspret·ti·ly, adverbpret·ti·ness, nounpret·ty·ish, adjectiveun·pret·ti·ly, adverbun·pret·ti·ness, nounun·pret·ty, adjective

Synonyms for pretty

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

2–4. pleasant. 10. somewhat.

Synonym study

1. See beautiful.

Antonyms for pretty

1. ugly.

Usage note

The qualifying adverb pretty, meaning “fairly or moderately” has been in general use since the late 16th century. Although most common in informal speech and writing, it is far from restricted to them, and often is less stilted than alternatives such as relatively, moderately, and quite.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for prettier

beautiful, cute, charming, pleasant, elegant, good-looking, neat, graceful, lovely, handsome, appealing, boss, cheerful, comely, dainty, darling, delicate, delightful, eyeful, fair

Examples from the Web for prettier

Contemporary Examples of prettier

It helped me look in the mirror and feel younger and prettier.
The Unsinkable Lee Grant Sets the Record Straight
William O’Connor
July 23, 2014
After all, why would you want to read in a longer and prettier form something that's already been published?
A Brief Meditation on Blogging
Justin Green
May 21, 2013
The whole thing is a substantive sop to the GOP right wing wrapped in a prettier package.
The New GOP Ploy Is Way More Radical
Michael Tomasky
January 23, 2013
“[The] overwhelming pressure to be thinner, prettier, and sexier begins subtly,” she says on her website.
Livestrong’s Trademark Bullying Record Revealed
Alex Heard
March 5, 2012
The shorter your skirt was and the prettier you were, the more they wanted you in front of the client.
Ginger White on Herman Cain's Exit, His Arrogance—and Her Sex Claims
Leslie Bennetts
December 5, 2011

Historical Examples of prettier

But thou art a pretty lad, and the prettier for thy modest ways.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
Mr. Cairnduff had told him that Belfast girls were prettier than London girls.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
She had grown since I saw her last, and was prettier than ever.
Wilfrid Cumbermede
George MacDonald
Not a prettier shoe could be seen on the Boulevards, and scarce one so small.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII. No. 3. March 1848
Various
She was pretty when a baby and prettier still as a schoolgirl.
Kent Knowles: Quahaug
Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for prettier

pretty

adjective -tier or -tiest

pleasing or appealing in a delicate or graceful way
dainty, neat, or charming
commendable; good of its kindhe replied with a pretty wit
informal, often ironic excellent, grand, or finehere's a pretty mess!
informal lacking in masculinity; effeminate; foppish
Scot vigorous or brave
an archaic word for elegant
a pretty penny informal a large sum of money
sitting pretty informal well placed or established financially, socially, etc

noun plural -ties

a pretty person or thing

adverb

informal fairly or moderately; somewhat
informal quite or very

verb -ties, -tying or -tied

(tr often foll by up) to make pretty; adorn

Derived Formsprettily, adverbprettiness, noun

Word Origin for pretty

Old English prættig clever; related to Middle Low German prattich obstinate, Dutch prettig glad, Old Norse prettugr cunning

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

Word Origin and History for prettier

pretty

adj.

Old English prættig (West Saxon), pretti (Kentish), *prettig (Mercian) "cunning, skillful, artful, wily, astute," from prætt, *prett "a trick, wile, craft," from West Germanic *pratt- (cf. Old Norse prettr "a trick," prettugr "tricky;" Frisian pret, Middle Dutch perte, Dutch pret "trick, joke," Dutch prettig "sportive, funny," Flemish pertig "brisk, clever"), of unknown origin.

Connection between Old English and Middle English words is uncertain, but if they are the same, meaning had shifted by c.1400 to "manly, gallant," and later moved via "attractive, skillfully made," to "fine," to "beautiful in a slight way" (mid-15c.). Ironical use from 1530s. For sense evolution, compare nice, silly. Also used of bees (c.1400). "After the OE. period the word is unknown till the 15th c., when it becomes all at once frequent in various senses, none identical with the OE., though derivable from it" [OED].

Meaning "not a few, considerable" is from late 15c. With a sense of "moderately," qualifying adjectives and adverbs, since 1560s. Pretty please as an emphatic plea is attested from 1902. A pretty penny "lot of money" is first recorded 1768.

pretty

1916, usually with up, from pretty (adj.). Related: Prettied; prettying. Cf. prettify.

pretty

"a pretty person or thing," 1736, from pretty (adj.).

Idioms and Phrases with prettier

pretty

In addition to the idioms beginning with pretty

pretty as a picture
pretty much
pretty penny, a

also see:

in a fix (pretty pickle)
kettle of fish, pretty
sitting pretty