pretty
A2Informal to neutral. The adjective and intensifier are very common in speech; 'pretty up' as a verb is informal.
Definition
Meaning
Attractive in a delicate or pleasing way; pleasant to look at.
Used to emphasize the degree of something, often with a sense of 'fairly' or 'moderately large'; to make something attractive (verb); pleasing or satisfactory in a broader sense.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, its meaning has softened from 'cunning, clever' (Old English) to its modern aesthetic sense. As an adverb/intensifier, it sits between 'fairly/rather' and 'very' in strength, and is often used to soften statements. It is polysemous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference in core meaning. The adverbial use ('pretty good') is slightly more prevalent and established in American English but is universally understood. The verb 'to pretty up' is informal in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, the adjective can sometimes imply 'conventionally attractive but lacking substance' (e.g., 'just a pretty face'). This connotation is shared.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both dialects. The adverbial use may be marginally more frequent in AmE casual speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] pretty (adj.)[verb] pretty (adv.)pretty [adjective/adverb]pretty up [object] (verb)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pretty penny”
- “come to a pretty pass”
- “sit pretty”
- “not just a pretty face”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare in formal writing. May appear in marketing ('pretty impressive results') or casual internal communication ('We're pretty close to the target').
Academic
The adjective is avoided for being subjective. The adverbial intensifier is generally considered too informal for formal academic prose.
Everyday
Extremely common in all its uses: describing appearance, as an intensifier ('pretty cold'), and as a verb ('pretty up the room').
Technical
Not used in technical senses.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She spent the afternoon trying to pretty up the flat before her parents arrived.
- They prettied the garden with some new plants.
American English
- He prettied up his resume before sending it out.
- Let's pretty up the patio for the barbecue.
adverb
British English
- I'm pretty certain the meeting is at three.
- The film was pretty boring, to be honest.
American English
- It's pretty cold outside, so grab a jacket.
- I finished the work pretty quickly.
adjective
British English
- They live in a pretty little cottage in the Cotswolds.
- She wore a pretty dress with a floral pattern.
American English
- That's a pretty serious accusation to make.
- We drove through some pretty countryside in Vermont.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Your dress is very pretty.
- She has a pretty smile.
- The weather is pretty good today.
- It's a pretty small flat, but it's enough for me.
- The exam was pretty difficult.
- He's pretty good at playing the guitar.
- The proposal sounds pretty convincing, but we need to see the details.
- She felt pretty awful after hearing the news.
- The situation is pretty much under control now.
- While his argument was superficially pretty compelling, it fell apart under closer scrutiny.
- The company's performance has been pretty underwhelming despite the favourable market conditions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRetty EYes and Tiny TY - think of something small and delicate with attractive eyes.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCE IS VALUE ('She's a pretty good lawyer' - mixing aesthetic and qualitative metaphors).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'pretty' as 'милый' when it means 'fairly/rather' (use 'довольно').
- 'Pretty' is less intense than 'красивая'; 'good-looking' or 'симпатичная' may be closer.
- Do not use 'pretty' to translate 'аккуратный' (use 'neat', 'tidy').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pretty' in formal writing as an intensifier. (Incorrect: The data are *pretty* conclusive.)
- Overusing 'pretty' instead of more precise adjectives (beautiful, charming, elegant).
- Confusing 'pretty' (adv.) with 'prettily' (adv. meaning 'in a pretty manner').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pretty' used as an adverb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As an adjective meaning 'attractive,' yes, but it is somewhat simple. As an adverb meaning 'fairly/rather,' it is generally considered too informal for most formal writing.
'Pretty' suggests a delicate, charming, or conventional attractiveness, often on a smaller scale. 'Beautiful' is stronger, broader, and can imply awe-inspiring or profound beauty.
It is a mild compliment. It means 'better than average' but not 'excellent.' In some contexts, it can even imply faint praise or damning with faint praise.
It means 'almost,' 'nearly,' or 'virtually.' Example: 'Have you finished?' 'Pretty much.' It is very common in informal spoken English.