quite
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of QUITE
1
a
:
to a very noticeable degree or extent
:
very
◊ Quite is a more forceful word than fairly but it is a less forceful word than extremely. It is used more often in British English than in U.S. English, but it is not an unusual or rare word in U.S. English.
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She did quite well.
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He is quite ill/rich/busy.
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The room is quite large/small.
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They were quite surprised.
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Blue jays are quite common in this area.
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We go out to dinner quite frequently.
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The entertainment was quite good.
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We live quite near the school.
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Quite frankly, we felt it was not our responsibility.
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Quite simply, we do not have the resources.
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She sings quite wonderfully.
b
— used to make a statement more forceful
— often used with a, an, or the before a noun
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I quite liked/enjoyed the music.
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“We're sorry for the trouble.” “That's quite all right.”
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The work has value in itself, quite apart from the good effects it produces.
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I haven't seen her for quite some time. [=a long period of time]
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I decided I had heard quite enough.
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It was quite something [=a major event] for a small-town boy to be interviewed for the national news.
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She is quite a beauty. [=she's very beautiful]
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The news was quite a shock. [=the news was very shocking]
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My promotion was quite a surprise.
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We had quite a lot of food at the dinner party.
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It was quite an eventful week.
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We were in line for quite a while.
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She has made quite a career for herself. [=she has had a very successful career]
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The award is quite an honor. [=is a very impressive honor]
2
:
completely or entirely
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“Are you quite finished?” “Not quite.”
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We quite agree.
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I am quite capable of doing it myself, thank you.
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They assured me that I was quite mistaken.
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Something wasn't quite right.
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We hadn't quite made up our minds.
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She's quite right, you know.
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I quite forgot your birthday.
3
:
exactly or precisely
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No one realized quite what was happening.
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Quite why he left is unclear.
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That is not quite what I said.
4
British
— used to express agreement
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“We need to let children be children.” “Quite.”
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“There is little violence in his films.” “Quite so.”
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“They have no one but themselves to blame.” “Quite right.”
