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Dictionary
quite
adverb \ˈkwīt\
: to a very noticeable degree or extent
: completely or entirely
: exactly or precisely
Full Definition 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>
— quite a bit
: a considerable amount
— quite a few
: many
See quite defined for English-language learners
See quite defined for kids
Usage Discussion of QUITE
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Examples of QUITE
- 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
- Irene Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty —John O'Hara, letter, 30 Dec. 1963
- In my opinion, my work … ain't quite good enough … —William Faulkner, in Faulkner in the University, (1959) 1977
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Origin of QUITE
Middle English, from quite, adjective, quit
First Known Use: 14th century
QUITE Defined for Kids
quite
adverb \ˈkwīt\
Definition of QUITE for Kids
1
: beyond question or doubt : completely <I was quite alone.> <Are you quite sure?>
2
: to a considerable extent <That's quite interesting.> <We're quite near.>
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