quite S1 W1 /kwaɪt/ BrE AmE predeterminer , adverb
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: quit , quite 'free of' (13-19 centuries) , from Old French quite ; ⇨ ↑ quit ]
1 . especially American English very, but not extremely ⇨ pretty :
The food in the cafeteria is usually quite good.
His hair is quite thin on top now.
Amy’s at college, and she’s doing quite well.
quite a something
He’s quite a good soccer player.
GRAMMAR
Put quite before ‘a’ and an adjective and noun, not after ‘a’:
▪
It took quite a long time (NOT a quite long time).
2 . especially British English fairly, or to a small extent, but not very ⇨ pretty :
The film was quite good, but the book was much better.
I got a letter from Sylvia quite recently.
quite like/enjoy
I quite like Chinese food.
3 . quite a lot/bit/few a fairly large number or amount:
He’s got quite a lot of friends.
Quite a few towns are now banning cars from their shopping centres.
4 . [+ adjective/adverb] British English completely:
I’m sorry. That’s quite impossible.
What she’s suggesting is quite ridiculous!
I think you’ve had quite enough to drink already!
That’s quite a different matter.
5 . not quite not completely:
They weren’t quite ready so we waited in the car.
I’m not quite sure where she lives.
Dinner’s almost ready, but not quite.
6 . not quite why/what/where etc not exactly why, what, where etc:
The play wasn’t quite what we expected.
7 . quite a something/quite some something British English used before a noun to emphasize that something is very good, large, interesting etc:
That was quite a party you had.
The engines make quite a noise.
It’s quite some distance away.
8 . quite a/some time especially British English a fairly long time:
We’ve been waiting for quite some time now.
9 . quite right British English used to show that you agree strongly with someone:
‘I refuse to do any more work.’ ‘Quite right. They can’t expect you to work for nothing.’
10 . that’s quite all right British English used to reply to someone that you are not angry about something they have done:
‘I’m sorry we’re so late.’ ‘That’s quite all right.’
11 . quite/quite so British English formal used to show that you agree with what someone is saying SYN exactly :
‘They really should have thought of this before.’ ‘Yes, quite.’
12 . quite something especially British English used to say that someone or something is very impressive:
It’s quite something to walk out on stage in front of 20,000 people.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rather/quite especially British English more than a little, but less than very. British people often use these words before adjectives in conversation. In many cases they do not intend to change the meaning – it is just something that people say:
She seemed rather unhappy.
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It's rather a difficult question.
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It’s getting quite late.
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Malaria is rather common in this area.
▪ fairly rather. Fairly is used in both British and American English:
The test was fairly easy.
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It’s a fairly long way to the next town.
▪ pretty spoken rather. Pretty is more informal than the other words and is used in spoken English:
Her French is pretty good.
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We’re in a pretty strong position.
▪ reasonably to a satisfactory level or degree:
He plays reasonably well.
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Let's just say that I am reasonably confident we'll win.
▪ moderately formal more than a little, but not very:
Her family was moderately wealthy.
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The food was moderately good, but not as good as the food in the other restaurants.
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Use a moderately high heat.
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a moderately difficult climb
▪ somewhat formal fairly or to a small degree. Somewhat is used especially when talking about the size or degree of something. It is often used in comparatives:
The celebrations were somewhat larger than last year’s.
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He looked somewhat irritated.
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a somewhat surprising decision