pretty

[ prit-ee ]

/ ˈprɪt i /

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See synonyms for: pretty / prettied / prettier / prettiest 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR pretty

1 attractive.

2-4 pleasant.

10 somewhat.

See synonyms for pretty on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR pretty

1 ugly.

See antonyms for pretty on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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

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

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Idioms about pretty

sitting pretty, Informal.

in an advantageous position.
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)

usage note for pretty

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM pretty

pret·ti·ly, adverbpret·ti·ness, nounpret·ty·ish, adjectiveun·pret·ti·ly, adverb

un·pret·ti·ness, nounun·pret·ty, adjective

Words nearby pretty

Pretoria, Pretorius, pretreat, pretrial, prettify, pretty, pretty as a picture, pretty much, pretty-pretty, pretypify, pretzel

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

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.

How to use pretty in a sentence

In the seeding games, the rate of calls receiving each of those designations was pretty similar to where it was during the regular season.
Don’t Blame The Refs For All Of These Replay Reviews|Jared Dubin|September 17, 2020|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.
Google ranking factors to change search in 2021: Core Web Vitals, E-A-T, or AMP?|Aleh Barysevich|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Watch
You should be pretty freaking complete by the time you come together, join together with another person.
Get Gabrielle Union’s Best Career Advice|Joshua Eferighe|September 16, 2020|Ozy
As for the towers I built, the difference looked pretty obvious.
Build ice towers with bottled water and ice|Bethany Brookshire|September 16, 2020|Science News For Students

This is a pretty standard speed bump for the bread-and-butter iPad.
Apple just announced a new iPad, iPad Air, and Apple Watch Series 6|Stan Horazek|September 15, 2020|Popular-Science
I think the response of the French government so far has been pretty appropriate in that regard.
Harry Shearer on The Dangerous Business of Satire|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I gotta say—I think this past year was pretty bad for music.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Jeffrey wanted me to tell you that you looked so pretty,” the female voice said into my disbelieving ear.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The clichés about football-obsessed husbands and frustrated wives are pretty heavy-handed.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Early on, the sexual protagonist complains that her Molson-drinking husband is pretty much an incompetent Neanderthal.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|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.
Children's Ways|James Sully
As company after company appeared, we were able to form a pretty exact estimate of their numbers.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
He glanced aside, and saw an exceedingly pretty, dark face, which looked vaguely familiar.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
Pretty women without religion are like flowers without perfume.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
Blanche stood an instant looking into the lighted room and hesitating—flushed a little, smiling, extremely pretty.
Confidence|Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for pretty

pretty

/ (ˈprɪtɪ) /

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 forms of pretty

prettily, 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

Other Idioms and Phrases with pretty

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

pretty

OTHER WORDS FOR pretty

OPPOSITES FOR pretty

Idioms about pretty

Origin of pretty

usage note for pretty

OTHER WORDS FROM pretty

Words nearby pretty

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say pretty?

Words related to pretty

How to use pretty in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pretty

Derived forms of pretty

Word Origin for pretty

Other Idioms and Phrases with pretty