pretty

[ prit-ee ]

adjective

, pret·ti·er, pret·ti·est.

1. pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness:

   a pretty face.

   Synonyms: attractive

   Antonyms: ugly

2. (of things, places, etc.) pleasing to the eye, especially without grandeur.

   Synonyms: pleasant

3. pleasing to the ear:

   a pretty tune.

   Synonyms: pleasant

4. pleasing to the mind or aesthetic taste:

   He writes pretty little stories.

   Synonyms: pleasant

5. (often used ironically) fine; grand:

   This is a pretty mess!

6. Informal. considerable; fairly great:

   This accident will cost him a pretty sum.

7. Archaic or Scot. brave; hardy.

noun

, plural pret·ties.

1. Usually pretties. pretty ornaments, clothes, etc.
2. a pretty person:

   Sit down, my pretty.

adverb

1. fairly or moderately:

   Her work was pretty good.

   Synonyms: somewhat

2. quite; very:

   The wind blew pretty hard.

3. Informal. prettily.

verb (used with object)

, pret·tied, pret·ty·ing.

1. to make pretty; improve the appearance of (sometimes followed by up ):

   to pretty oneself for a party;

   to pretty up a room.

pretty

/ ˈprɪtɪ /

adjective

1. pleasing or appealing in a delicate or graceful way
2. dainty, neat, or charming
3. commendable; good of its kind

   he replied with a pretty wit

4. informal.
   excellent, grand, or fine

   here's a pretty mess!

5. informal.
   lacking in masculinity; effeminate; foppish
6. vigorous or brave
7. an archaic word for elegant
8. a pretty penny informal.
   a large sum of money
9. sitting pretty informal.
   well placed or established financially, socially, etc

noun

1. a pretty person or thing

adverb

1. informal.
   fairly or moderately; somewhat
2. informal.
   quite or very

verb

1. troften foll byup to make pretty; adorn

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈprettily, adverb
• ˈprettiness, noun

Other Words From

• pretti·ly adverb
• pretti·ness noun
• pretty·ish adjective
• un·pretti·ly adverb
• un·pretti·ness noun
• un·pretty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretty¹

First recorded 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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretty¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

More idioms and phrases containing pretty

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

Example Sentences

In the seeding games, the rate of calls receiving each of those designations was pretty similar to where it was during the regular season.

From FiveThirtyEight

That’s a pretty huge step for anybody trying to accrue as many SERP features as they can, and, in particular, for news websites.

From Search Engine Watch

You should be pretty freaking complete by the time you come together, join together with another person.

From Ozy

As for the towers I built, the difference looked pretty obvious.

From Science News For Students

This is a pretty standard speed bump for the bread-and-butter iPad.

From Popular-Science

I think the response of the French government so far has been pretty appropriate in that regard.

From The Daily Beast

I gotta say—I think this past year was pretty bad for music.

From The Daily Beast

“Jeffrey wanted me to tell you that you looked so pretty,” the female voice said into my disbelieving ear.

From The Daily Beast

The clichés about football-obsessed husbands and frustrated wives are pretty heavy-handed.

From The Daily Beast

Early on, the sexual protagonist complains that her Molson-drinking husband is pretty much an incompetent Neanderthal.

From The Daily Beast

Yet if there is a measure of untruth in such pretty flatteries, one needs to be superhuman in order to condemn them harshly.

From Project Gutenberg

As company after company appeared, we were able to form a pretty exact estimate of their numbers.

From Project Gutenberg

He glanced aside, and saw an exceedingly pretty, dark face, which looked vaguely familiar.

From Project Gutenberg

Pretty women without religion are like flowers without perfume.

From Project Gutenberg

Blanche stood an instant looking into the lighted room and hesitating—flushed a little, smiling, extremely pretty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attractive
• beautiful
• charming
• cute
• elegant
• good-looking
• graceful
• handsome
• lovely
• neat
• pleasant

When To Use

What are other ways to say pretty?

Something or someone that is pretty is pleasing to the eye. But calling someone pretty isn’t quite the same as calling them beautiful, handsome, or lovely. Find out why on Thesaurus.com.