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

"Game feels in good shape. I feel pretty good coming in here," McIlroy said.

From Barron's

“We’re seeing positive headlines for home builders leading to the stocks getting bid up pretty significantly, whereas negative headlines are really not driving a similar move lower.”

From Barron's

Despite the heavy breathing, Heathcliff and Catherine’s chemistry is pretty vanilla.

From Los Angeles Times

From 2016 to 2024, he noted, "his mental health was pretty compromised and relationships with friends and partners came and went".

From BBC

I’m pretty sure that means “be nice,” but I also stopped paying attention to his French lessons about five years ago.

From Literature

Related Words

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