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quite

Pronunciation: /kwʌɪt/

Translate quite | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of quite

adverb

[usually as submodifier]
  • 1to the utmost or most absolute extent or degree; absolutely; completely:it’s quite out of the question are you quite certain about this? this is quite a different problem I quite agree quite frankly, I don’t blame you
  • US very; really (used as an intensifier):‘You’ve no intention of coming back?’ ‘I’m quite sorry, but no, I have not.’
  • West Indian all the way:dresses quite from Port of Spain
  • 2to a certain or fairly significant extent or degree; fairly:it’s quite warm outside he’s quite an attractive man

exclamation

  • (also quite so) expressing agreement with or understanding of a remark or statement:‘I don’t want to talk about that now.’ ‘Quite’

Phrases

not quite

not completely or entirely:my hair’s not quite dry she hasn’t quite got the hang of it yet

not quite the thing

dated
not well, healthy, or normal:I’m afraid Oliver isn’t feeling quite the thing this morning
socially unacceptable:it wouldn’t be quite the thing to turn up in a raincoat and wellies

quite a —— (also often ironic quite the ——)

used to indicate that the specified person or thing is perceived as particularly notable, remarkable, or impressive:quite a party, isn’t it? quite the little horsewoman, aren’t you?

quite a few

see few.

quite a lot (or a bit)

a considerable number or amount of something:my job involves quite a lot of travel he’s quite a bit older than she is

quite some

  • 1a considerable amount of:she hasn’t been seen for quite some time
  • 2informal way of saying quite a —— .Old Darlington was quite some place to live in

quite something

see something.

Origin:

Middle English: from the obsolete adjective quite, variant of quit1

Do not confuse quite with quiet. Quite means 'completely' (are you quite certain?) or 'moderately' (it’s quite warm outside), whereas quiet means 'making little or no noise' (she spoke in a quiet voice).

quite in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of quite in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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