pretty

pret·ty

Use pretty in a sentence

Hot air balloons flying during a pretty sunset.

adjective

The definition of pretty is someone or something that is attractive in a delicate way.
1. An example of pretty is a nice sunset.
2. An example of pretty is actress Ellen Page.

adverb

Pretty is defined as fairly or somewhat.
An example of pretty is someone having a somewhat good time at a party.

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"pretty." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/pretty>.

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pretty. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/pretty

pretty

adjective

-·tier, -·ti·est

pleasing or attractive in a dainty, delicate, or graceful way rather than through striking beauty, elegance, grandeur, or stateliness
1. fine; good; nice: often used ironically: I'm in a pretty fix
2. adroit; skillful: a pretty move
Archaic elegant
Now Chiefly Scot. brave; bold; gallant
Informal considerable; quite large: a pretty price

Origin of pretty

Middle English prati from Old English prættig, crafty from prætt, craft, trick

1. fairly; moderately: pretty sure
2. Informal quite or very: pretty angry
-·tier, -·ti·estInformal prettily: to talk pretty

noun

pl. -·ties

a pretty person or thing

transitive verb

-·tied, -·ty·ing

to make pretty: usually with up

pretty Idioms

pretty nearly

mostly, almost, more or less, etc.: I used up pretty nearly all of the flour

also Informalpretty much[the spoiled child does pretty much what he wants to do]

sitting pretty

Slang in a favorable position

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MLA Style

"pretty." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/pretty>.

APA Style

pretty. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/pretty

pretty

adjective

pret·ti·er, pret·ti·est

Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way. See Synonyms at beautiful.
Clever; adroit: a pretty maneuver.
Very bad; terrible: in a pretty predicament; a situation that has reached a pretty pass.
Ostensibly or superficially attractive but lacking substance or conviction: full of pretty phrases.
Informal Considerable in size or extent: a pretty fortune.

adverb

To a fair degree; moderately: a pretty good student.
In a pretty manner; prettily or pleasingly.

noun

pl. pret·ties

One that is pretty.
pretties Delicate clothing, especially lingerie.

transitive verb

pret·tied, pret·ty·ing, pret·ties

To make pretty: pretty up the house.

Origin of pretty

Middle English prety clever, fine, handsome from Old English prættig cunning from prætt trick

Related Forms:

pret′ti·ly
adverb

pret′ti·ness
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"pretty." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/pretty>.

APA Style

pretty. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/pretty

Adjective

(comparative prettier, superlative prettiest)

Cunning; clever, skilful. [from 9th c.]
Pleasant in sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children. [from 15th c.]
Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing. [from 15th c.]
(often pejorative) Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty. [from 15th c.]
(dated) Moderately large; considerable. [from 15th c.]
(dated) Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.). [from 16th c.]
(ironic) Awkward, unpleasant. [from 16th c.]

Antonyms

ugly

Adverb

(not comparable)

Somewhat, fairly, quite; sometimes also (by meiosis) very.

Usage notes

When particularly stressed, the adverb pretty serves almost to diminish the adjective or adverb that it modifies, by emphasizing that there are greater levels of intensity.

Noun

(plural pretties)

Something that is pretty.
"We'll stop at the knife store a look at the sharp pretties.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present pretties, present participle prettying, simple past and past participle prettied)

To make pretty; to beautify

Origin

From Middle English prety, preti, praty, prati, from Old English prÃ¦ttiÄ¡ (“tricky, crafty, sly, cunning, wily, astute"), from Proto-Germanic *prattugaz (“boastful, sly, slick, deceitful, tricky, cunning"), corresponding to prat (“trick") +"Ž -y. Cognate with Dutch prettig (“nice, pleasant"), dialectal German (East Friesland) prettig (“funny"), Low German pratzig (“arrogant, boastful, haughty"), German protzig (“showy, ostentatious, swanky, pretentious"), Icelandic prettugur (“deceitful, tricky"). For the sense-development, compare canny, clever, cute.