pretty

1.adjectiveA2

Definition

having a nice appearance that is gentle and refined rather than striking — for example, a young child with soft features, or a garden full of blooming flowers.

Example

The garden looked so pretty with all the spring flowers in bloom.

pretty + noun phrase for visual appeal

Caleb bought his little sister a pretty blue dress for her birthday.

Common collocations

pretty face
pretty dress
pretty girl
pretty picture
pretty garden
pretty flowers

Synonyms

beautiful
stronger and more general; can describe people, nature, art, and abstract beauty
lovely
warmer and more affectionate; often used for people and experiences
attractive
broader in scope; can describe appeal beyond physical appearance
cute
informal; suggests a younger, smaller, or more playful kind of prettiness

Antonyms

ugly
the most direct opposite in appearance

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe women, children, and things with a delicate or refined beauty, less often used for adult men. For men, 'handsome' or 'good-looking' is more common.

Common Mistakes

He is a pretty man.

He is a handsome man.

'pretty' is rarely used for adult males in modern English; 'handsome' is the usual choice.

Idioms

sitting pretty

idiom

to be in a very favourable or comfortable situation, especially financially, while others are not.

After selling his company, Henrik was sitting pretty for the rest of his life.

While most startups struggled, Jiwoo's firm was sitting pretty with plenty of funding.

1.adverbB1

Definition

to a moderate degree; more than a little but less than very.

Example

The exam was pretty hard, but Mathieu still passed it.

pretty + adjective (hard) meaning 'fairly'

Gabriel is pretty good at playing the saxophone for someone his age.

Common collocations

pretty good
pretty bad
pretty sure
pretty fast
pretty hard
pretty much

Synonyms

quite
similar intensity but slightly more formal; can vary in strength between British and American English
fairly
a weaker degree; less than 'pretty'
rather
slightly more formal; can imply more than expected

Grammar Patterns

pretty + adjective/adverb

Usage Note

In informal British English, 'pretty' can be a weakener ('pretty good' = fairly good), while in American English it often leans toward a strengthening meaning ('pretty good' = quite good).

Common Mistakes

She is pretty more confident than before.

She is pretty confident.' or 'She is more confident than before.

'pretty' cannot modify comparative adjectives.

2.adverbB1

Definition

to a large degree; very close to completely — used before 'much', 'well', 'nearly', and similar words to emphasise that something is almost the case.

Example

Eshe is pretty much finished with her homework and only needs to check it.

pretty much + finished meaning 'almost completely'

The bridge repairs are pretty well complete, apart from the paintwork.

Common collocations

pretty much
pretty well
pretty nearly
pretty damn

Synonyms

almost
direct synonym; more formal and not restricted to fixed collocations
nearly
same meaning as 'almost'; common with numbers and measurements
virtually
more formal; emphasises that the difference is negligible

Grammar Patterns

pretty much + verb/noun

pretty well + verb

Usage Note

Only used with a small set of modifiers: 'much', 'well', 'nearly', and occasionally 'damn' (informal). Does not stand alone as an intensifier — you cannot say 'pretty finished' to mean 'almost finished'.

Common Mistakes

The work is pretty finished.

The work is pretty much finished.

'pretty' alone cannot mean 'almost'; it must combine with 'much' or 'well'.

Idioms

be sitting pretty

idiom

To be in a very good or comfortable situation, especially when others are not.

After winning the lottery, Mia is sitting pretty for life.

With a stable job and savings, Diego is sitting pretty now.

pretty much/well

idiom

Almost or nearly completely.

The project is pretty much finished, just a few details left.

Sara goes to the gym pretty well every morning.

Word family

prettily
adverbB2
prettiness
nounB2
prettify
verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something pleasing to look at, but they differ in intensity and typical use. 'Pretty' suggests a delicate, graceful kind of beauty — often used for women, children, flowers, or small objects. 'Beautiful' is stronger and more general; it can describe people of any gender, landscapes, music, or ideas. 'Lovely' adds a warm, affectionate tone — you might call a view or a person 'lovely' when they give you a feeling of warmth rather than visual impact. 'Handsome' is the standard word for an attractive man, though it can also describe buildings or objects with a well-proportioned, dignified appearance. 'Attractive' is the most neutral and broad: it covers physical appeal, personality, and even abstract qualities. For example: 'The garden looked pretty in spring' vs. 'The Grand Canyon is beautiful' vs. 'What a lovely smile she has' vs. 'He is a handsome man in his forties' vs. 'She has an attractive personality.'

beautifullovelyhandsomeattractive

Common collocations

Nouns

pretty face
pretty dress
pretty girl
pretty garden
pretty picture
pretty flowers

Adverbs

quite pretty
very pretty
rather pretty
extremely pretty

Phrases

pretty good
pretty sure
pretty much
pretty well
pretty fast
pretty hard

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Pretty comes from Old English 'prættig', meaning cunning or clever. In Middle English it shifted from 'clever' to 'finely made' to 'attractive'. The adverb use ('pretty good', 'pretty much') developed in the 16th century from the idea of something being 'cleverly' or 'aptly' done, then softened to mean 'moderately'.

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pretty

pretty — adjective

1. having a nice appearance that is gentle and refined rather than striking — for e

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

sitting pretty

pretty — adverb

1. to a moderate degree; more than a little but less than very.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to a large degree; very close to completely — used before 'much', 'well', 'nearl

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

be sitting pretty

pretty much/well

pretty — noun

1. delicate or decorative clothing items, such as lace gloves, silk ribbons, or emb

Usage Note

2. a person or thing that is pleasant to look at, often used affectionately or play

Usage Note

pretty — verb

1. to make someone or something look more attractive, usually by adding small decor

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Etymology

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