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quite

quite

1.0
To a fairly high degree
  • adverb
  • /kwaɪt/
translation icon : bastante
  • These lentils are quite nice.
  • quite different
  • quite often
  • quite clear

This is like, quite an old school term.

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Examples

  • So it is still quite high versus those others.

  • What if I said I'd quite like it if you were to stay?

  • I think it's quite cool, quite cash, just like me.

  • And this is not quite what we wanted here.

  • It's just not going to grow quite as fast.

  • Well, I think it's quite fantastic.

  • I quite enjoyed the show.

  • Actually, it smells quite nice.

  • PBL shows us a way forward and is quite effective with students.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The concert was quite loud, and everyone was impressed by the energy.

Synonyms

pretty
vsquite
  • Informal
1.0

Fairly or to some degree when describing another word

is a higher or stronger degree than casual moderate usage
fairly
vsquite
895 1.0

To some degree but not very much

is a higher, more noticeable degree than moderate amounts
greatly
vsquite
350 1.0

By a very large amount

is used for a high degree but can be less intense
quite a bit
vsquite
  • Informal
235 2.8

A fairly large amount

is a noticeable degree rather than an informal large amount phrase
considerably
vsquite
144 3.4

By a large amount

is a noticeable degree but usually less extreme than that
reasonably
vsquite
129 2.2

To a fair degree but not very much

is a stronger, more noticeable degree than fair or moderate
substantially
vsquite
129 4.9

To a large degree

is similar but generally less forceful or absolute in degree
notably
vsquite
101 3.5

In a way that is especially clear or important

is more general marking degree without stressing particular cases

Antonyms

1.0

Happens only by a very small amount

885 1.0

A little, not very much

Idioms

3.2

A phrase that shows someone or something is very noticeable and impressive

quite a bit
  • Informal
235 2.8

A fairly large amount

105 3.5

To show that something is very surprising or impressive

Feeling a little unwell and not your usual self

quite a little
  • Informal
3 6.6

A fairly large amount of something

To cause a lot of public interest and excitement

Compounds

1 5.1

Fairly difficult and needing some skill or care to do

A fairly large change you can easily notice

How Strong

extremely
1.0
really
1.0
quite
1.0
fairly
895 1.0
somewhat
816 2.0

Surface Forms

quite positive

Etymology

Quite later became softer in meaning, changing from 'completely' to 'to a high degree' or 'very', so when someone says 'quite good' they usually mean 'very good' rather than 'perfect'. A helpful way to remember this is to think of quite as 'really' in everyday speech.