pretty

American  

[prit-ee] / ˈprɪt i /

adjective

prettier, prettiest

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.

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noun

plural

pretties

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)

prettied, prettying

1. to make pretty; improve the appearance of (sometimes followed byup ).

   to pretty oneself for a party;

   to pretty up a room.

idioms

1. sitting pretty,

   1. in an advantageous position.

   2. well-to-do; successful.

pretty British  

/ 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. informal a large sum of money

9. informal well placed or established financially, socially, etc

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noun

1. a pretty person or thing

adverb

1. informal fairly or moderately; somewhat

2. informal quite or very

verb

1. to make pretty; adorn

pretty More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pretty

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

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Usage

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 Word Forms

• prettily adverb
• prettiness noun
• prettyish adjective
• unprettily adverb
• unprettiness noun
• unpretty adjective

Etymology

Origin of pretty

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”

Example Sentences

“Economic data outside of the jobs market has been pretty resilient,” Gillum said in a phone interview on Thursday, noting that Monday’s manufacturing-based survey from the Institute for Supply Management contained a surprisingly good reading.

From MarketWatch

“He is more than pretty great. He is all the way great.”

From Literature

Well, Pa was sixteen and pretty strong, but that old outhouse wouldn’t budge.

From Literature

She made a big crane out of her prettiest paper and sent it across the hall to his room.

From Literature

In fact, given how young it was, the fact that they could communicate at all was pretty amazing.

From Literature

Related Words

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