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View synonyms for

pretty

[ prit-ee ]

adjective

prettier, prettiest.
  1. pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness:

    a pretty face.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms:

  2. (of things, places, etc.) pleasing to the eye, especially without grandeur.

    Synonyms:

  3. pleasing to the ear:

    a pretty tune.

    Synonyms:

  4. pleasing to the mind or aesthetic taste:

    He writes pretty little stories.

    Synonyms:

  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.


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:

  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 by up ):

    to pretty oneself for a party;

    to pretty up a room.

pretty

/ ˈɪɪ /

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. a pretty penny informal.
    a large sum of money
  9. sitting pretty informal.
    well placed or established financially, socially, etc
“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

noun

  1. a pretty person or thing
“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

adverb

  1. informal.
    fairly or moderately; somewhat
  2. informal.
    quite or very
“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

verb

  1. troften foll byup to make pretty; adorn
“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
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Usage Note

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.
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٳپ, adverb
  • ˈٳپԱ, noun
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Other yvlog Forms

  • t· adverb
  • t·Ա noun
  • t· adjective
  • un·t· adverb
  • un·t·Ա noun
  • ܲ·t adjective
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of pretty1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English prati(e), pratte, prettie “cunning, gallant, fine, handsome, pretty”; Old English æٳپ, prettī “cunning,” derivative of ǣٳ “a trick, wile”; cognate with Dutch part, pret “trick, prank,” Old Norse prettr “t,” prettugr “t”
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of pretty1

Old English æٳپ clever; related to Middle Low German prattich obstinate, Dutch prettig glad, Old Norse prettugr cunning
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. sitting pretty, Informal.
    1. in an advantageous position.
    2. well-to-do; successful.

More idioms and phrases containing pretty

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Just having a professional win to come out the second night of a back-to-back and play the way we did was pretty impressive.”

From

There are equations, but the basics are pretty easy to understand: Individual countries are good at making different things, based on their own natural resources and the ingenuity of their populations.

From

That pretty much sums the Spaniard up: Honest, direct and not one for show.

From

"I don't think people are surprised when I tell them I've had cosmetic surgery because I think it's pretty normal now," she said.

From

With the current high interest rate environment, this means the difference in mortgage payments can be pretty steep compared to a few years ago.

From

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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 .

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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