pretty
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++pret·ty1 /ˈprɪti/ ●●● S1 W3 adverb [+adj/adverb] spoken 1 QUITE/FAIRLYfairly or more than a little 颇，相当 I’m pretty sure he’ll say yes. 我相当肯定他会同意的。 She still looks pretty miserable. 她看上去还是非常痛苦。 RegisterIn written English, people usually avoid pretty and use fairly instead: 在书面英语中,人们一般避免使用 pretty ,而是用 fairlyThe consequences of this are fairly obvious. 这件事的后果显而易见。2 VERYvery 很，非常 Dinner at Luigi’s sounds pretty good to me. 到路易吉餐厅吃饭我看很不错嘛。3 pretty well/much spoken ALMOSTalmost completely 差不多，几乎 He hit the ball pretty well exactly where he wanted it. 他击球很棒，差不多指哪儿打哪儿。 The guard left us pretty much alone. 看守几乎没来打扰我们。 They’re all pretty much the same. 他们全都差不多。4 pretty nearly spoken (also pretty near American English)ALMOST almost 几乎，差不多 The shock of Pat’s death pretty near killed Roy. 帕特去世的打击让罗伊几乎痛不欲生。 → be sitting pretty at sit(9)
Examples from the Corpus
pretty• It's pretty cold today.• Well, that was pretty dumb of me, to even consider doing something so demeaning, I thought.• Six o'clock? That's pretty early.• I thought the test was pretty easy.• Perception was pretty much neurophysiology: sensory inhibition, Mach band phenomena, iconic storage, and the like.• I felt pretty nervous going into the exam, but after I got started I loosened up some.• I had to divert him pretty quickly!• We are certainly setting pretty right now.• The problem is that the core looks pretty rotten.• I was pretty sure Dilip would find the dang about as interesting as mud.• "It's pretty tough work, " he wearily confessed.pretty2 ●●● S2 W3 adjective (comparative prettier, superlative prettiest) 1 BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKINGa woman or child who is pretty has a nice attractive face 漂亮的，好看的，标致的 a pretty little girl 漂亮的小姑娘 Maria looks much prettier with her hair cut short. 玛丽亚把头发剪短好看多了。► see thesaurus at beautiful2 NICEsomething that is pretty is pleasant to look at or listen to but is not impressive 好看的，好听的，悦目的，悦耳的〔但未达到令人心动的程度〕 a pretty dress 漂亮的裙子 The tune is pretty. 曲调很好听。 What a pretty little garden! 多漂亮的小花园！3 not a pretty sight UNPLEASANTvery unpleasant to look at – sometimes used humorously 不堪入目〔有时为幽默用法〕 After a night’s drinking, Al was not a pretty sight. 喝了一晚上的酒，阿尔已经不成人样了。4 not just a pretty face spokenINTELLIGENT used humorously to say that someone is intelligent, when people think this is surprising 不仅相貌好，不只脸蛋漂亮〔幽默用法，用于表示某人聪明〕 I’m not just a pretty face, you know! 你要知道，我可不光是脸蛋漂亮！5 come to a pretty pass old-fashionedSERIOUS SITUATION used to say that a very bad situation has developed 情况变得很糟糕 Things have come to a pretty pass, if you can’t say what you think without causing a fight. 如果你有话直说就一定会引起争吵，那就不妙了。6. cost a pretty penny old-fashionedCOST to cost a lot of money 花费很多钱7. pretty as a picture BEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING old-fashioned very pretty 非常漂亮的 —prettily adverb Charlotte sang very prettily. 夏洛特唱得非常好听。 —prettiness noun [uncountable]Examples from the Corpus
pretty• A very long time ago, she must have been pretty.• Then she added, My sister will be even prettier.• Nancy is younger than I am and much prettier.• She has a pretty face.• pretty flowers• A pretty girl like you should have a boyfriend.• Maureen's really pretty, isn't she?• Their pretty lace design is repeated on the side tables, lamps and blanket box.• They had an aquarium with lots of pretty little fish.• I felt really emotional as I gazed at her, realising how fast my pretty little girl was growing up.• And see how he always touches her head, gives her the prettiest ribbons for her braid?• They were far from being a pretty sight but he forced himself to carry out as thorough an investigation as he could.• We walked down the pretty, tree-lined avenue.• a pretty village on the Suffolk border• You have a really pretty voice.• The room was decorated with pretty wallpaper with yellow flowers on it.• What a pretty watch!• Doesn't she look pretty with her hair up?• She was at times a pretty woman.Origin pretty2 Old English prættig “tricky”, from prætt “trick”pret·ty1 adverb →REGISTER1pretty2 adjectiveChineseSyllable
a little Corpus than more fairly or
pretty
pret‧ty1 S1 W3 /ˈprɪti/ 
adverb [+ adjective/adverb] spoken
1. fairly or more than a little:
I’m pretty sure he’ll say yes.
She still looks pretty miserable.
REGISTER
In written English, people usually avoid pretty and use fairly instead:
▪The consequences of this are fairly obvious.
2. very:
Dinner at Luigi’s sounds pretty good to me.
3. pretty well/much almost completely:
He hit the ball pretty well exactly where he wanted it.
The guard left us pretty much alone.
They’re all pretty much the same.
4. pretty nearly (also pretty near American English) almost:
The shock of Pat’s death pretty near killed Roy.
⇨ be sitting pretty at sit(9)
▪ rather/quite especially British English more than a little, but less than very. British people often use these words before adjectives in conversation. In many cases they do not intend to change the meaning – it is just something that people say: She seemed rather unhappy. | It's rather a difficult question. | It’s getting quite late. | Malaria is rather common in this area.
▪fairly rather. Fairly is used in both British and American English: The test was fairly easy. | It’s a fairly long way to the next town.
▪pretty spoken rather. Pretty is more informal than the other words and is used in spoken English: Her French is pretty good. | We’re in a pretty strong position.
▪reasonably to a satisfactory level or degree: He plays reasonably well. | Let's just say that I am reasonably confident we'll win.
▪moderately formal more than a little, but not very: Her family was moderately wealthy. | The food was moderately good, but not as good as the food in the other restaurants. | Use a moderately high heat. | a moderately difficult climb
▪somewhat formal fairly or to a small degree. Somewhat is used especially when talking about the size or degree of something. It is often used in comparatives: The celebrations were somewhat larger than last year’s. | He looked somewhat irritated. | a somewhat surprising decision
pretty2 S2 W3 adjective (comparative prettier, superlative prettiest)
a pretty little girl
Maria looks much prettier with her hair cut short.
2. something that is pretty is pleasant to look at or listen to but is not impressive:
a pretty dress
The tune is pretty.
What a pretty little garden__
3. not a pretty sight very unpleasant to look at – sometimes used humorously:
After a night’s drinking, Al was not a pretty sight.
4. not just a pretty face spoken used humorously to say that someone is intelligent, when people think this is surprising:
I’m not just a pretty face, you know__
5. come to a pretty pass old-fashioned used to say that a very bad situation has developed:
Things have come to a pretty pass , if you can’t say what you think without causing a fight.
6. cost a pretty penny old-fashioned to cost a lot of money
7. pretty as a picture old-fashioned very pretty
—prettily adverb:
Charlotte sang very prettily.
—prettiness noun [uncountable]
| I |
adverb [+ adjective/adverb] spoken1. fairly or more than a little:
REGISTER
In written English, people usually avoid pretty and use fairly instead:
▪
2. very:
3. pretty well/much almost completely:
4. pretty nearly (also pretty near American English) almost:
⇨ be sitting pretty at sit(9)
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
adjective (comparative prettier, superlative prettiest) Language: Old English
Origin: prættig 'tricky', from prætt 'trick'
1. a woman or child who is pretty has a nice attractive face:Origin: prættig 'tricky', from prætt 'trick'
2. something that is pretty is pleasant to look at or listen to but is not impressive:
3. not a pretty sight very unpleasant to look at – sometimes used humorously:
4. not just a pretty face spoken used humorously to say that someone is intelligent, when people think this is surprising:
5. come to a pretty pass old-fashioned used to say that a very bad situation has developed:
6. cost a pretty penny old-fashioned to cost a lot of money
7. pretty as a picture old-fashioned very pretty
—prettily adverb:
—prettiness noun [uncountable]
rather
◆ The exam was fairly difficult. 这场考试颇难。 ◆ The exam was quite difficult. 这场考试相当难。 ◆ The exam was rather difficult. 这场考试十分难。 Quite is a little stronger thanfairly , andrather is a little stronger thanquite .Rather is not very common inNAmE pretty has the same meaning and this is used in informalBrE * quite 比 fairly 语气稍强，而 rather 又比 quite 语气稍强。在美式英语中，rather 不太常用。pretty 与 rather 含义相同，也用于非正式英式英语 ：◆ The exam was pretty difficult. 这场考试十分难。 In BrE quite has two meanings.在英式英语中，quite 含义有二 ：◆ I feel quite tired today (= .fairly tired )今天我感到相当累。 With adjectives that describe an extreme state ('non-gradable' adjectives) it means 'completely' or 'absolutely'. 与表示极端状态的形容词（即非级差形容词）连用，意为完全地、绝对地 ：◆ I feel quite exhausted. 我感到筋疲力尽。 With some adjectives, both meanings are possible. The speaker's stress and intonation will show you which is meant. 与某些形容词连用，两种含义均有可能，究竟属于哪一种由说话者的重音和语调决定 ：◆ Your essay is ˈquite good (= .fairly good—it could be better )你的文章还不错（挺好，不过可以更好）； ◆ Your essay is quite ˈgood (= .very good, especially when this is unexpected )你的文章简直太好了（非常好，尤指出乎意料）。 In NAmE quite usually means something like 'very', not 'fairly' or 'rather'.Pretty is used instead for this sense.在美式英语中，quite 通常为 very 之义，而非 fairly 或 rather。表示后一种意思用 pretty。
also
also
beautiful (especially of a woman or girl) very pleasant to look at （尤指女子或女孩）漂亮的，美丽的 ：◆ She looked stunningly beautiful that night. 她那天晚上美极了。 pretty (especially of a girl or woman) pleasant to look at （尤指女孩或女子）漂亮的，俊俏的 ：◆ She's got a very pretty face. 她有一张非常俏丽的脸。 NOTE Pretty is used most often to talk about girls. When it is used to talk about a woman, it usually suggests that she is like a girl, with small, delicate features.* pretty 多形容女孩。如果形容女子，通常表示这女子像女孩一样小巧玲珑。 handsome (of a man) pleasant to look at; (of a woman) pleasant to look at, with large strong features rather than small delicate ones 指（男子）英俊的，漂亮的；（女子）健美的 ：◆ He was described as ' tall, dark and handsome '.他被描述为 “高大黝黑、相貌堂堂”。 attractive (of a person) pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way 指（人）性感的、妩媚的、俊朗的、迷人的 ：◆ She's a very attractive woman. 她是个非常迷人的女子。 lovely (of a person) beautiful; very attractive 指（人）美丽的、迷人的 ：◆ She looked particularly lovely that night. 她那天晚上特别妩媚动人。 NOTE When you describe sb as lovely , you are usually showing that you also have a strong feeling of affection for them.用 lovely 形容人时，通常表示说话者很喜欢这个人。 good-looking (of a person) pleasant to look at, often in a sexual way 指（人）好看的、漂亮的、性感的 ：◆ She arrived with a very good-looking man. 她和一个非常英俊的男人一起到来。 gorgeous ( (of a person) extremely attractive, especially in a sexual way指（人）非常漂亮的、美丽动人的、性感的 ：◆ You look gorgeous! 你美极了！
attractive or good-looking? 用 attractive 还是 good-looking？
If you describe sb as attractive you often also mean that they have a pleasant personality as well as being pleasant to look at;good-looking just describes sb's physical appearance.用 attractive 形容人时，常常还表示这人不仅长得漂亮，性格也很可爱，而 good-looking 只指人的长相好看。
Patterns
a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking/gorgeous girl/woman a(n) beautiful/handsome/attractive/good-looking/gorgeous boy/man a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking face
especially
beautiful (especially of a woman or girl) very pleasant to look at （尤指女子或女孩）漂亮的，美丽的 ：◆ She looked stunningly beautiful that night. 她那天晚上美极了。 pretty (especially of a girl or woman) pleasant to look at （尤指女孩或女子）漂亮的，俊俏的 ：◆ She's got a very pretty face. 她有一张非常俏丽的脸。 NOTE Pretty is used most often to talk about girls. When it is used to talk about a woman, it usually suggests that she is like a girl, with small, delicate features.* pretty 多形容女孩。如果形容女子，通常表示这女子像女孩一样小巧玲珑。 handsome (of a man) pleasant to look at; (of a woman) pleasant to look at, with large strong features rather than small delicate ones 指（男子）英俊的，漂亮的；（女子）健美的 ：◆ He was described as ' tall, dark and handsome '.他被描述为 “高大黝黑、相貌堂堂”。 attractive (of a person) pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way 指（人）性感的、妩媚的、俊朗的、迷人的 ：◆ She's a very attractive woman. 她是个非常迷人的女子。 lovely (of a person) beautiful; very attractive 指（人）美丽的、迷人的 ：◆ She looked particularly lovely that night. 她那天晚上特别妩媚动人。 NOTE When you describe sb as lovely , you are usually showing that you also have a strong feeling of affection for them.用 lovely 形容人时，通常表示说话者很喜欢这个人。 good-looking (of a person) pleasant to look at, often in a sexual way 指（人）好看的、漂亮的、性感的 ：◆ She arrived with a very good-looking man. 她和一个非常英俊的男人一起到来。 gorgeous ( (of a person) extremely attractive, especially in a sexual way指（人）非常漂亮的、美丽动人的、性感的 ：◆ You look gorgeous! 你美极了！
attractive or good-looking? 用 attractive 还是 good-looking？
If you describe sb as attractive you often also mean that they have a pleasant personality as well as being pleasant to look at;good-looking just describes sb's physical appearance.用 attractive 形容人时，常常还表示这人不仅长得漂亮，性格也很可爱，而 good-looking 只指人的长相好看。
Patterns
a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking/gorgeous girl/woman a(n) beautiful/handsome/attractive/good-looking/gorgeous boy/man a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking face