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View synonyms for pretty

pretty

[ prit-ee ]

adjective

, pret·ti·er, pret·ti·est.
  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.


noun

, plural pret·ties.
  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)

, pret·tied, pret·ty·ing.
  1. to make pretty; improve the appearance of (sometimes followed by up ):

    to pretty oneself for a party;

    to pretty up a room.

pretty

/ 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. 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

  • ˈprettily, adverb
  • ˈprettiness, noun
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Other Words From

  • pretti·ly adverb
  • pretti·ness noun
  • pretty·ish adjective
  • un·pretti·ly adverb
  • un·pretti·ness noun
  • un·pretty adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pretty1

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”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pretty1

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

Idioms
  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

In the seeding games, the rate of calls receiving each of those designations was pretty similar to where it was during the regular season.

That’s a pretty huge step for anybody trying to accrue as many SERP features as they can, and, in particular, for news websites.

You should be pretty freaking complete by the time you come together, join together with another person.

From Ozy

As for the towers I built, the difference looked pretty obvious.

This is a pretty standard speed bump for the bread-and-butter iPad.

I think the response of the French government so far has been pretty appropriate in that regard.

I gotta say—I think this past year was pretty bad for music.

“Jeffrey wanted me to tell you that you looked so pretty,” the female voice said into my disbelieving ear.

The clichés about football-obsessed husbands and frustrated wives are pretty heavy-handed.

Early on, the sexual protagonist complains that her Molson-drinking husband is pretty much an incompetent Neanderthal.

Yet if there is a measure of untruth in such pretty flatteries, one needs to be superhuman in order to condemn them harshly.

As company after company appeared, we were able to form a pretty exact estimate of their numbers.

He glanced aside, and saw an exceedingly pretty, dark face, which looked vaguely familiar.

Pretty women without religion are like flowers without perfume.

Blanche stood an instant looking into the lighted room and hesitating—flushed a little, smiling, extremely pretty.

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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 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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prettifypretty as a picture