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quite

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adverb, predeterminer British English pronunciation: quite /kwaɪt/
Quite can be used in the following ways:
as an adverb (before an adjective or adverb): I was quite angry with her. (before a verb): I quite agree with you. ♦ I can’t quite decide which dress to wear today. (as an answer word): ‘I can’t talk about it over the phone.’ ‘Quite. I understand.’
as a predeterminer (followed by ‘a/an’ and a noun): I was taking quite a risk when I decided to talk to him. (followed by ‘the’ and a noun): That was quite the nicest party I’ve ever been to.
 
  1. 1
    fairly but not very

    I was feeling quite tired after our walk.

    They said the dog was quite badly injured.

    quite a good/big etc something:

    We had to wait for quite a long time.

    There’s quite a steep slope down to the river.

    He was quite a good musician.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  quiteThesaurus entry for this meaning of quite
  2. 2
    completely

    Are you quite sure you know what to do?

    It’s quite impossible to keep the house clean when all the children are here.

    I don’t quite understand the problem.

    The drawing’s not quite right.

    They’re doing a marvellous job, but they haven’t quite finished.

    ‘Are you ready?’ ‘Not quite.’

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  quiteThesaurus entry for this meaning of quite
  3. 3
    very

    The organizers have achieved something quite extraordinary.

    The hotel was dirty and the food was quite disgusting.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  quiteThesaurus entry for this meaning of quite
  4. 4
    [always in negatives] used after a negative word to mean that something is not exactly correct or clear

    I’m not sure that ‘respect’ is quite the right word.

    not quite what/why/how etc:

    I don’t know quite why you’ve come here and I suggest you leave.

    We couldn’t quite remember where you lived.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  quiteThesaurus entry for this meaning of quite
  5. 5
    British spoken used for showing that you agree with what someone has said

    ‘It’s not the kind of behaviour we expect from a teacher.’ ‘Quite.’

    quite so:

    ‘It is most important that the matter should be kept secret.’ ‘Quite so.’

    quite right:

    ‘Some laws are meant to be broken.’ ‘Quite right.’

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  quiteThesaurus entry for this meaning of quite

phrases

This is the British English definition of quite. View American English definition of quite.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

 

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