Pretty meaning in English

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Definition

(it's) pretty (far): (it's) quite, rather, very (far) adverb
I'm pretty tired, so I don't think I'll be going out tonight.
(a) pretty (girl): (a) beautiful, good-looking, attractive (girl) adjective
You look pretty in that dress.
(it's) pretty much (the same): (it's) practically, basically, more or less (the same) idiom

UK: Have you seen the new girl? She's really pretty!
US: Not when you get up close - she's actually pretty ugly!

Examples

  • "Horatio : Yeah it's pretty cool."
  • "That is a pretty cool costume you're wearing."
  • "I don't often get such a pretty lady to come here on her own accord."
  • "Brian : No, no, I feel pretty healthy."
  • "But I've got to warn you, these are some pretty serious tough hombres back there..."
  • "Most of the items are pretty unisex."
  • "I read your horoscope and saw that Mercury has entered your star sign, so your consciousness is probably pretty high at the moment."
  • "The school offers happy and informal language lessons in a pretty farmhouse called Dill Cottage."
  • "I've got a real problem. I can't stop buying pretty things!"
  • "I'm pretty sure that I opened a file that I shouldn't have."
  • "Although I don't own a rifle, I'm pretty sure they're not allowed on commercial flights."
  • "It's pretty noisy down there Candy!"
  • "I'm a close friend of singer Elkie Johns and I've been to some pretty wild parties."
  • "I don't often get such a pretty lady to come here on her own accord... and for free!"
  • "But it was pretty funny, no?"
  • "The pretty boy ran out of the bar."
  • "Philip : Yeah, this dog thing is actually pretty cool."
  • "I will of course talk to Doris, but I'm pretty sure that her recent poor performance is a result of personal issues."
Exercise 1
The terms pretty and rather can share a similar meaning, but they can also express something very different!

In the exercise below, you must decide whether "rather" and "pretty" are interchangeable in each sentence. If the second sentence in each pair is correct, select "interchangeable". If it isn't, select "not interchangeable"!

Ronald is pretty hungry --> Ronald is rather hungry:

That girl was very pretty --> That girl was very rather:

I'd rather die than work in accounting --> I'd pretty die than work in accounting:

Jimi's brother was rather unhappy --> Jimi's brother was pretty unhappy:
The terms pretty and rather can share a similar meaning, but they can also express something very different!

In the exercise below, you must decide whether "rather" and "pretty" are interchangeable in each sentence. If the second sentence in each pair is correct, select "interchangeable". If it isn't, select "not interchangeable"!

Ronald is pretty hungry --> Ronald is rather hungry: interchangeable 1

That girl was very pretty --> That girl was very rather: not interchangeable 2

I'd rather die than work in accounting --> I'd pretty die than work in accounting: not interchangeable 3

Jimi's brother was rather unhappy --> Jimi's brother was pretty unhappy: interchangeable 4
1 interchangeable: "Pretty" and "rather" are interchangeable here. They share a similar meaning to "quite" or "somewhat". This is the way in which the terms were used in Luna's e-mail. Example: "My new skirt was pretty expensive", "my new skirt was rather expensive".
1 not interchangeable: Sorry, but the two terms are in fact interchangeable in this context!
2 not interchangeable: In this context, "pretty" cannot be replaced by "rather". Here, "pretty" is used to mean "beautiful" or "attractive". It does not share a similar meaning with "rather" in this sentence. Example: "The theme for my birthday party is pretty shoes ".
2 interchangeable: I'm afraid that "pretty" and "rather" are not synonymous or interchangeable here.
3 not interchangeable: "Rather" cannot be replaced with "pretty" in this sentence. Here, "rather" is used as a comparative, and shares a similar meaning with "prefer". Example: "Most people would rather eat chips than salad".
3 interchangeable: The term "rather" cannot be replaced by "pretty" in this context.
4 interchangeable: In this context, "rather" can be replaced with "pretty", and the sentence has the same meaning. This is the same use of the terms as we read in the e-mail: meaning "quite" or "somewhat". Example: "Football is rather boring", "football is pretty boring".
4 not interchangeable: "Rather" and "pretty" are in fact interchangeable here.
Exercise 2
Polly Watson is described as thorough.
What is a synonym of "thorough"?
Polly Watson is described as thorough.
What is a synonym of "thorough"?
"Thorough" means "competent" or "capable". These terms are synonymous in this context.
Polly is quite pretty, but this is not what Warbuckle means when he says that she is "thorough".
"Direct" is not a synonym of "thorough".
Polly is in fact very friendly, but this is not what Warbuckle means when he says that she is "thorough".
Exercise 3
Harold Warbuckle describes Brian Jones as thorough.
He is saying that Brian is:
Harold Warbuckle describes Brian Jones as thorough.
He is saying that Brian is:
"Intelligent" and "well-informed" are not synonymous with the term "thorough", although they are positive characteristics to be sure!
A "thorough" person pays rigorous attention to details. For example: My lawyer is very thorough; she will attend to every detail. The term can also mean "exhaustive" or "complete": The doctor gave my foot a thorough examination. Listen carefully to the pronunciation of this term, as it's pronounced slightly differently in US and UK English: .
"Polite" and "friendly" are not synonymous with the term "thorough", although they are positive characteristics to be sure!
Brian is free to live his life in whatever manner he feels best. Love is love, Bruno. Also, "thorough" doesn't mean "possibly homosexual".

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