quite
quite Lexical Profile
quite Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
To the utmost or most absolute extent or degree; completely or entirely.
"The renovation of the historic library is not quite finished yet."
To a significant or considerable degree; fairly, rather, or very.
"The walk to the summit was quite tiring, so we rested for an hour at the top."
Used before a noun phrase to emphasize that a person or thing is particularly notable, remarkable, or impressive of its kind.
"Their new culinary venture turned out to be quite a success in the neighborhood."
• interjection
British Used to express agreement with or understanding of a statement just made.
""It is essential that we double-check the figures before publishing." "Quite.""
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently confused with the similarly spelled 'quiet' (meaning silent or calm) and 'quit' (meaning to stop or leave). Additionally, 'quite' has a notable regional divergence: in American English it usually means 'very' or 'completely', whereas in British English before gradable adjectives it often acts as a downtoner meaning 'fairly' or 'moderately' (e.g., 'quite good' implies room for improvement).
• Rhymes for quite
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English quite, borrowed from Old French quite ('free, clear, discharged'), which derives from Latin quietus ('at rest, free from obligation'), sharing an ultimate root with 'quiet' and 'quit'.