quite

quite
/kwaIt/ predeterminer, adverb
1 (+ adj/adv) especially BrE fairly: quite big/tall etc: The restaurant does great food and the prices are quite reasonable. | I got a letter from Sylvia quite recently. | quite a big sth/a tall sth etc: He's quite a good soccer player really. | quite a lot/a few etc: We managed to get quite a lot of information for the survey.
—see rather
2 quite good/funny etc AmE very good, funny etc: The food was quite good!
3 quite a lot/bit/few large number or amount: She must have left here, oh, quite a few years ago.
4 not quite why/what/where etc not exactly why, what, where etc: I must admit, the play wasn't quite what we expected.
5 not quite not completely: They weren't quite ready so we waited in the car.
6 quite a/quite some used to describe something that is unusually good, long, interesting etc: That was quite a party you had last night. | That makes quite a noise, doesn't it? | He ran quite some distance before he found a public telephone.
7 (+ adj/adv) BrE very or completely: It's one thing driving a car but a lorry is quite different. | That's quite ridiculous! | quite the best/the worst etc: It was quite the most interesting museum I've ever visited.
8 I'm not quite sure used to say that you are not certain about something: I'm not quite sure what her second name is.
9 quite right BrE used to show that you strongly agree with someone: “Why should they get paid more than us?” “Quite right, it's completely unfair.”
10 quite like BrE to like something, but not very much: Well, I quite like maths, but I don't like the teacher. | It's funny, but he quite likes it after all.
11 that's quite all right used to reply to someone that you do not mind what they are doing: “I hope I'm not disturbing you.” “That's quite all right.”
12 I'm quite happy to do something BrE used to say that you are very willing to do something: If they want to come in and discuss it, I'd be quite happy to meet them.
13 quite frankly/honestly BrE used when you are giving a very direct or honest opinion: Well, quite frankly, I've never heard such rubbish in all my life!
14 quite/quite so BrE formal used to show that you agree with what someone is saying: “They really should have thought of this before.” “Yes, quite.”
15 quite enough especially BrE used when you are annoyed with what someone is saying or doing and you want them to stop: I've heard quite enough about your problems. What about mine?
16 quite something especially BrE used to say that someone or something is very impressive: You should have come to the Carnival, it was quite something, I can tell you.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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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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