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pretty
[prit-ee]
adjective
pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness.
a pretty face.
Synonyms:Antonyms:(of things, places, etc.) pleasing to the eye, especially without grandeur.
Synonyms:pleasing to the ear.
a pretty tune.
Synonyms:pleasing to the mind or aesthetic taste.
He writes pretty little stories.
Synonyms:(often used ironically) fine; grand.
This is a pretty mess!
Informal.Ìýconsiderable; fairly great.
This accident will cost him a pretty sum.
Archaic or Scot.Ìýbrave; hardy.
noun
plural
prettiesUsually pretties. pretty ornaments, clothes, etc.
a pretty person.
Sit down, my pretty.
adverb
fairly or moderately.
Her work was pretty good.
Synonyms:quite; very.
The wind blew pretty hard.
Informal.Ìýprettily.
verb (used with object)
to make pretty; improve the appearance of (sometimes followed byup ).
to pretty oneself for a party;
to pretty up a room.
pretty
/ ˈ±è°ùɪ³Ùɪ /
adjective
pleasing or appealing in a delicate or graceful way
dainty, neat, or charming
commendable; good of its kind
he replied with a pretty wit
informalÌýexcellent, grand, or fine
here's a pretty mess!
informalÌýlacking in masculinity; effeminate; foppish
vigorous or brave
an archaic word for elegant
informalÌýa large sum of money
informalÌýwell placed or established financially, socially, etc
noun
a pretty person or thing
adverb
informalÌýfairly or moderately; somewhat
informalÌýquite or very
verb
to make pretty; adorn
Usage
Other 51³Ô¹Ï Forms
- prettily adverb
- prettiness noun
- prettyish adjective
- unprettily adverb
- unprettiness noun
- unpretty adjective
- ˈ±è°ù±ð³Ù³Ù¾±±ô²â adverb
- ˈ±è°ù±ð³Ù³Ù¾±²Ô±ð²õ²õ noun
51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins
Origin of pretty1
51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins
Origin of pretty1
Idioms and Phrases
sitting pretty,
in an advantageous position.
well-to-do; successful.
Example Sentences
Rory McIlroy says he has "earned the right to do whatever I want to do" after skipping media duties following his opening two rounds during what he called a "pretty average" US Open performance.
The chancellor's allies reckon the big review went down pretty well.
She’s staying in Silver Lake, planning to rebuild in Altadena, and Kimbop is doing pretty well but still adjusting to different sights and missing her friends.
There is no family breakdown or deprivation and school officials described him as "sociable, a pretty good student, well-integrated into the life of the establishment".
And that was a pretty good barometer for getting an interesting story that was likely to still be topical in a year.
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Related 51³Ô¹Ïs
When To Use
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 Thesaurus.com.
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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