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]

---

Example Sentences

You’re doing pretty much everything by the book.

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

That was pretty much when it was all over.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

That is to say, pretty much Wilson business as usual.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward said her party had "massively increased our vote share pretty much everywhere we've stood", including a "massive breakthrough" in London and gains in Manchester that were "over our expectations".

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Dad used to drive me here pretty much every weekend to stay with Gram, so I’ve always had my own bedroom, and I’ve explored every corner of the village.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish

Related Words

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