Definition of 'quite'

Word Frequency

quite

(kwaɪt )

1. adverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb] [ADVERB before verb]

You use quite to indicate that something is the case to a fairly great extent. Quite is less emphatic than 'very' and 'extremely'.

[vagueness]

I felt quite bitter about it at the time.

I was doing quite well, but I wasn't earning a lot of money.

Well, actually it requires quite a bit of work and research.

I was quite a long way away, on the terrace.

I quite enjoy living here.

Synonyms: somewhat, rather, fairly, reasonably More Synonyms of quite

2. adverb [ADVERB before verb]

You use quite to emphasize what you are saying.

[emphasis]

It is quite clear that we were firing in self defence.

That's a general British failing. In the U.S.A. it's quite different.

I can state quite definitely it will be terrible.

This was a serious breach of trust quite apart from the gravity of any offence.

I quite agree with you. That's a good way of looking at it.

Synonyms: absolutely, perfectly, completely, totally More Synonyms of quite

3. adverb [ADVERB before verb]

You use quite after a negative to make what you are saying weaker or less definite.

[vagueness]

Something here is not quite right.

After treatment he was able to continue but he was never quite the same.

We still can't quite believe he's here with us after all this time.

And at the beginning, I didn't quite understand what all this was about.

That wasn't quite what I meant.

4. predeterminer

You use quite in front of a noun group to emphasize that a person or thing is very impressive or unusual.

[approval]

'Oh, he's quite a character,' Sean replied.

It's quite a city, Boston.

5. adverb

You can say 'quite' to express your agreement with someone.

[spoken, formulae]

'And if you buy the record it's your choice isn't it.'—'Quite'.

'I won't say over the air who it is.'—'No, quite.'

More Synonyms of quite

Video: pronunciation of 'quite'

Word Frequency

quite in British

(kwaɪt )

adverb

to the greatest extent; completely or absolutely

you're quite right

quite the opposite

2. (not used with a negative)

to a noticeable or partial extent; somewhat

she's quite pretty

in actuality; truly

he thought the bag was heavy, but it was quite light

it's quite the thing to do

4. quite a

5. quite something

sentence substitute

6. Also: quite so

an expression used to indicate agreement or assent

▶ USAGE See note at very

Word origin of 'quite'

C14: adverbial use of quite (adj) quit

Word Frequency

quite in American

(kwaɪt ; kwīt)

adverb

completely; entirely

not quite done

really; truly; positively

quite a hero

to some, or a considerable, degree or extent; very or fairly

quite warm outside

Idioms:

quite a few (or bit, etc.)

quite (so)!

Word origin of 'quite'

ME quite: see , quit adjective

Example sentences containing 'quite'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

They can lose a hopeless case but quite legally claim their huge costs. The Sun (2017)But the statistics tell a quite different story. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Wales were quite good at it for an hour in two of their three summer internationals. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Yet neither of the other two left his team up against it quite like this one. The Sun (2017)It helps that he is quite well known now. Times, Sunday Times (2017)The building society is quite frank about not being an international bank. Times, Sunday Times (2017)That worked out so well it was soon quite a regular thing. The Sun (2016)Obviously we are all used to protesters not being quite what they say they are. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Talk to her again to be quite sure. The Sun (2017)It was more than a persona, but not quite a comedy character. Times, Sunday Times (2016)This has not been the case for quite some time. Times, Sunday Times (2012)We will see hospitals spread their wings quite widely within different regions and across regions. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Are you quite sure of your own discretion? George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)You can be big as well as quite poor. Times, Sunday Times (2014)There is something not quite right about the human condition. Times, Sunday Times (2016)My parents were shocked but they took the whole thing quite well. The Sun (2012)The story of the marsh harriers says quite clearly that such a thing can be done. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Neither team were quite good enough to get into a winning position and hold steady. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Something was not quite right in that sentence. Times, Sunday Times (2008)What is innocent in one country might mean something quite different in another. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The basis of its case appears quite arbitrary and rests on contentious historical documentation. Times, Sunday Times (2016)They have all ended up doing quite well. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Sometimes parents are surprised to find that they are not quite sure themselves which is the correct way to be clean. Pearce, John (Dr.) Good Habits, Bad Habits (1994)He was quite open about it. Times, Sunday Times (2008)As his prediction suggests, he does not quite see it like that. Times, Sunday Times (2014)You make the jump when you're quite happy somewhere. The Times Literary Supplement (2011)I give him quite a lot of stick and he quite likes it. The Sun (2010)Some households have become home owners because of lack of choice and as a last resort - quite out of character with images of the tenure. Forrest, Ray & Murie, Alan & Williams, Peter Home-ownership - differentiation and fragmentation (1990)Quite out of character, he didn't fluff it. Times, Sunday Times (2011)

Trends of 'quite'

Extremely Common. quite is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'quite'

British English: quite /kwaɪt/ ADVERB

Quite means a bit but not a lot.

I quite like her but she's not my best friend.

American English: quite
Arabic: فِعْلاً
Brazilian Portuguese: completamente
Chinese: 相当
Croatian: prilično
Czech: docela
Danish: temmelig
Dutch: behoorlijk
European Spanish: absolutamente
Finnish: aivan
French: plutôt assez
German: ziemlich
Greek: αρκετά
Italian: abbastanza
Japanese: かなり
Korean: 상당히
Norwegian: ganske
Polish: całkiem
European Portuguese: completamente
Romanian: destul
Russian: вполне
Spanish: absolutamente
Swedish: ganska
Thai: ค่อนข้างจะ
Turkish: oldukça
Ukrainian: досить
Vietnamese: khá

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Nearby words of 'quite'

Related Terms of 'quite'

Source

Definition of quite from the Collins English Dictionary

Phrasal verbs

A phrasal verb is a type of verb that is created when a main verb is combined with either: an adverb, take off give in blow up break in a preposition, get at (someone) pick on (weaker ch...