quite

adverb

ˈkwīt How to pronounce quite (audio)
Synonyms of quite
1
: wholly, completely
not quite finished
2
: to an extreme : positively
quite sure
—often used as an intensifier with a
quite a swell guy
quite a beauty
3
: to a considerable extent : rather
quite near
see also:
quite a bit quite a few

Synonyms of quite

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Examples of quite in a Sentence

He felt that the world he had loved had quite gone. —Edmund Wilson, New York Times Book Review, 20 July 1986
The men who made love to the left-wing college girls were either medical students, who had contempt for them and forgot them, or jocks, who bragged falsely of having made conquests of quite other girls. —Renata Adler, Pitch Dark, 1983
In my opinion, my work … ain't quite good enough … —William Faulkner, in Faulkner in the University, (1959) 1977
Irene Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty —John O'Hara, letter, 30 Dec. 1963
“Are you quite finished?” “Not quite.” I am quite capable of doing it myself, thank you. They assured me that I was quite mistaken. We hadn't quite made up our minds. She's quite right, you know. I quite forgot your birthday. No one realized quite what was happening. Quite why he left is unclear. That is not quite what I said.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the years since—I’m not quite sure when—the habit slipped. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Haaland might not stick around quite long enough to outgun him. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 July 2026 Their sole isn’t quite as high, but they’re still equipped with the brand’s signature foam midsole, which offers premium cushioning with each step. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 For young women, life in contemporary Myanmar can feel quite oppressive. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for quite

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from quite, adjective, quit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quite was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing quite

Rhymes for quite

See All Rhymes for quite

Browse Nearby Words

quitclaim deed
quite
quite a bit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quite. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

quite

adverb
ˈkwīt How to pronounce quite (audio)
1
: beyond question or doubt : completely
quite alone
quite sure
2
: more or less sense 1, rather
we live quite near the school

More from Merriam-Webster on quite

Nglish: Translation of quite for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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