Definition of pretty - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
appearancepleasing to look at, sometimes in a delicate or graceful way
- She wore a pretty dress to the party.
2.
- Well, this is a pretty mess we're in.
3.
- He made a pretty profit from the sale.
4.
superficialonly superficially attractive, initially appealing but lacking substance
- The movie was pretty but lacked depth.
Adverb
1.
- The movie was pretty good.
2.
mannerin a pretty manner, attractively
- She danced pretty at the recital.
Noun
- The vase was a pretty on the shelf.
Verb
beautifymake something more attractive or beautiful
- She decided to pretty the room with flowers.
Expressions with pretty
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very close or snug
The dress she wore was pretty tight.
to a moderately high degree
She managed to complete the task pretty well despite the distractions..
man considered attractive and well-groomed
He was often teased as the pretty boy of the group..
used to add politeness to a request
Could you pass the salt, pretty please?
look attractive or pleasant to see
After the storm, the park was not a pretty sight.
probability of success is very low
The chance is pretty slim that we'll win the lottery.
situation or thing that is unpleasant or upsetting to see
That broken window is not a pretty sight.
looking attractive when wearing pink clothing
She looked pretty in pink at the party.
use special care in dressing or grooming
He took time to pretty up before the party.
considered expensive or costly in price
The ticket price is $100? That's pretty steep!
be very expensive
The new car will cost a pretty penny.
metaphorically undesirable or disappointing
After the merger, morale collapsed, and it wasn't a pretty sight.
person valued only for being attractive, not for other qualities
He is just another pretty face in the crowd.
situation that is unpleasant or troubling
The aftermath of the storm was not a pretty picture.
very visually attractive or pleasing to look at
The garden was pretty as a picture in spring.
playful or exaggerated way to ask for something
Will you do my homework, pretty please with sugar on top?
decorate or adorn a place
She wants to pretty up the place for the party.
be in a good or advantageous situation
After the promotion, she could sit pretty with her new salary.
having decreased German language skills from lack of use
After years without practice, her German is pretty rusty.
states that rules or boundaries are unclear or confusing
Be careful; that's a pretty murky area in our policy.
fully developed or ready to be used or eaten
That mango is pretty ripe and ready to eat..
visually attractive image or scene
The artist painted a pretty picture of the sunset.
visually appealing images or illustrations
The gallery was full of pretty pictures.
quite thin in size or width
She has a pretty slim figure.
Origin of pretty
Old French, pret (ready) + -y (adjective suffix)
Terms with pretty included in their meaning
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appearance
attractive in a pretty, endearing, or youthful way
sight
cause interest or curiosity by looking unusual or pretty
appearance
having a pretty, picturesque look in a clichéd way
attractively
in an attractive or pretty manner
appearance
delicately small and pretty
appearance
cute or pretty person or child
acr: Pretty Darn Quick
very fast or done with great speed
acr: Pretty Good Privacy
tool to keep emails and files safe
botany
plant with pretty flowers and edible roots
plant
type of small plant with pretty flowers
excessive prettiness
excessively pretty to the point of being showy
Examples of pretty in a sentence
She found a pretty vase at the flea market. This is a pretty situation to be stuck in! You've made a pretty mistake this time. The project required a pretty amount of resources. She spent a pretty sum on her new car. The design was pretty but not functional.
Her argument was pretty but lacked evidence. I'm pretty sure it's going to rain. The test was pretty challenging. The curtains hung pretty in the sunlight. The table was set pretty for the guests. She wore a pretty in her hair for the party. The garden was full of pretties in springtime. They prettied the garden with colorful lights. He wanted to pretty the old house for the guests.
View all translations of pretty
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:joli, plutôt, ...
- German:hübsch, recht, ...
- Italian:carino, abbastanza, ...
- Spanish:bonito, relativamente, ...
- Portuguese:bonito, bastante, ...
- Chinese:漂亮, 挺, ...
- Japanese:かわいらしい, まあまあ, ...
- Arabic:جَمِيل, نِسْبِيًّا, ...
- Hebrew:יָפֶה, דֵי, ...
- Russian:симпатичный, довольно, ...
- Ukrainian:гарний, досить, ...
- Hindi:सुंदर, ठीक-ठाक, ...
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