pretty much

Idioms  

1. Almost, nearly, approximately, as in Our homework was pretty much finished. This adverbial usage differs from the use of pretty for “considerable” (as in pretty penny). [c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pretty much

The team, it turns out, had hoped for an improvement of about two seconds a lap from the aerodynamic improvements and weight-saving, and, at least in Hungary, that was pretty much delivered.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Stern: Ordinary people standing up for what they know the Constitution guarantees: That turns out to be the origin story of pretty much every major civil rights movement in America.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Seattleites, however, can attest that Burning Man’s ruin began long ago, pretty much since Microsofties and Amazonians invaded it in the early aughts.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

“To start the year, it was just pretty much an everything selloff in all software,” said Mike Treacy, head of market risk at Apex Fintech Solutions.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

“He pretty much hates you, doesn’t he?” came a voice at my elbow, and I jumped and turned to see Serina standing next to me.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• a little
• considerably
• fairly
• kind of
• moderately
• quite
• rather
• reasonably
• somewhat
• very