cute

[ kyoot ]

adjective

, cut·er, cut·est.

1. attractive, especially in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty:

   a cute child; a cute little apartment.

2. appealing and delightful; charming:

   What a cute toy!

3. affectedly or mincingly pretty or clever; precious:

   The child has acquired some intolerably cute mannerisms.

4. mentally keen; clever; shrewd.

noun

1. the cutes, Informal. self-consciously cute mannerisms or appeal; affected coyness:

   The young actress has a bad case of the cutes.

cute

/ kjuːt /

adjective

1. appealing or attractive, esp in a pretty way
2. informal.
   sexually attractive
3. informal.
   affecting cleverness or prettiness
4. clever; shrewd

Derived Forms

• ˈcuteness, noun
• ˈcutely, adverb

Other Words From

• cute·ly adverb
• cute·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cute¹

First recorded in 1615–25; aphetic variant of acute

Word History and Origins

Origin of cute¹

C18 (in the sense: clever): shortened from acute

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. meet cute, Informal.
   1. (of a romantic couple) to meet for the first time in a charming or amusing way:

      In this type of movie the boy and girl always meet cute.

   2. Also meet-cute. a situation or occasion when potential romantic partners meet for the first time in a charming or amusing way:

      a classic Hollywood meet cute; his meet-cute with Jane in the bookstore.

Example Sentences

A Please Don’t Destroy video promised in the opening credits was cut for time, but it was posted online and featured Charli with the PDD guys in a “mean cute.”

From Los Angeles Times

Video of Spot strutting around the property has gone viral on TikTok - where reactions range from calling them cool and cute, to creepy - and become fodder for jokes on American late night television.

From BBC

The collision that brings the teenage protagonists of “Fireworks” together is as cute as meet-cutes get.

From New York Times

He was cute and had a nice profile depicting a clean-cut, slightly geeky guy.

From Los Angeles Times

"Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy, but tomorrow you're getting knocked out."

From BBC

Related Words

• adorable
• beautiful
• charming
• delightful
• pleasant
• pretty