What does “pretty” mean?
- 1
adverbfairly or quite, but not extremely
The test was pretty easy.
- 2
adjectiveattractive in a pleasant, often delicate way
What a pretty little garden!
Pretty at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb & adjective
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈprɪti/ · PRIT-ee
- Forms
- prettier, prettiest
How to use “pretty” correctly
As an adverb, “pretty” is informal and very common: “pretty good”. As an adjective it is usually used for women, children and things, not men.
Common phrases with “pretty”
- pretty good
- pretty much
- pretty sure
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- quite
- fairly
- lovely
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- ugly
“pretty” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- also adverbA1in addition; as well
- how adverbA1used to ask about the way something is done or happens
- just adverbA1a very short time ago
- not adverbA1used to make a word, phrase or sentence negative
- off adverbA1away from a place or position
- out adverbA1away from the inside of a place or container
- really adverbA1very or very much
- so adverbA1very or to such a great degree