quite

quite
[[t]kwa͟ɪt[/t]]
♦
1) ADV: ADV adj/adv, ADV a n, ADV before v (vagueness) You use quite to indicate that something is the case to a fairly great extent. Quite is less emphatic than `very' and `extremely'.

I felt quite bitter about it at the time...

I was doing quite well, but I wasn't earning a lot of money...

Well, actually it requires quite a bit of work and research...

I was quite a long way away, on the terrace...

I quite enjoy living here.

2) ADV: ADV group, ADV before v (emphasis) You use quite to emphasize what you are saying.

It is quite clear that we were firing in self defence...

That's a general British failing. In the USA it's quite different...

I can state quite definitely it will be terrible...

This was a serious breach of trust quite apart from the gravity of any offence...

I quite agree with you. That's a good way of looking at it.

3) ADV: with brd-neg, ADV group, ADV before v (vagueness) You use quite after a negative to make what you are saying weaker or less definite.

Something here is not quite right...

After treatment he was able to continue but he was never quite the same...

We still can't quite believe he's here with us after all this time...

And at the beginning, I didn't quite understand what all this was about...

That wasn't quite what I meant.

Syn:
4) PREDET: PREDET a n (approval) You use quite in front of a noun group to emphasize that a person or thing is very impressive or unusual.

`Oh, he's quite a character,' Sean replied...

It's quite a city, Boston.

5) ADV: ADV as reply (formulae) You can say `quite' to express your agreement with someone. [SPOKEN]

`And if you buy the record it's your choice isn't it.' - `Quite'...

`I won't say over the air who it is.' - `No, quite.'


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • quite — [ kwaıt ] function word *** 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 a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • quite — W1S1 [kwaıt] predeterminer, adv [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: quit, quite free of (13 19 centuries), from Old French quite; QUIT] 1.) fairly or very, but not extremely →↑pretty ▪ The food in the canteen is usually quite good. ▪ He seems quite upset… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • quite — 1. Quite is a highly mobile word with a wide range of uses qualifying adjectives and adverbs (quite heavy / quite often), singular nouns (quite a lot), and verbs (We quite understand / I d quite like to). It causes difficulty because it has two… …   Modern English usage

  • Quite — (kw[imac]t), adv. [F. quitte discharged, free, clear; cf. OF. quitement freely, frankly, entirely. See {Quit}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Completely; wholly; entirely; totally; perfectly; as, the work is not quite done; the object is quite… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • quite — ► ADVERB 1) to the utmost or most absolute extent or degree; completely. 2) to a certain extent; moderately. 3) US very; really. ► EXCLAMATION (also quite so) ▪ expressing agreement. ● quite a Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • quite — [kwīt] adv. [ME quite: see QUIT, adj.] 1. completely; entirely [not quite done] 2. really; truly; positively [quite a hero] 3. to some, or a considerable, degree or extent; very or fairly [quite warm outside] ☆ …   English World dictionary

  • quite — sustantivo masculino 1. Área: tauromáquia Acción de atraer al toro un torero para librar a otro de una situación de peligro: Cuando el banderillero estaba en el suelo, el diestro hizo un quite memorable. Frases y locuciones 1. estar al quite… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • quite a - — (also often ironic quite the ) used to indicate that the specified person or thing is perceived as particularly notable, remarkable, or impressive quite a party, isn t it? | it s been quite a year | quite the little horsewoman, aren t you? …   Useful english dictionary

  • quite — 1. m. Acción de quitar o estorbar. 2. Esgr. Movimiento defensivo con que se detiene o evita el ofensivo. 3. Taurom. Suerte que ejecuta un torero, generalmente con el capote, para librar a otro del peligro en que se halla por la acometida del toro …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • quite — quite, estar al quite expr. estar preparado por si hay que actuar. ❙ «El chofer, que estaba al quite, les vio por el retrovisor...» Pedro Casals, Disparando cocaína …   Diccionario del Argot "El Sohez"

  • quite — quite; mes·quite; re·quite; …   English syllables

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