quite

quite
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 about it all.
▪ I'm quite willing to help.
▪ Amy's at university now and doing quite well .
▪ I got a letter from Sylvia quite recently.
quite a sth
▪ He's quite a good soccer player.
quite like/enjoy BrE
▪ I quite like Chinese food.
see usage note ↑rather
2.) quite a lot/bit/few
a fairly large number or amount
▪ He's got quite a lot of friends.
▪ Quite a few towns are now banning cars from their shopping centres.
3.) [+ adjective/adverb] BrE
completely
▪ I'm sorry. That's quite impossible .
▪ What she's suggesting is quite ridiculous!
▪ I think you've had quite enough to drink already!
▪ That's quite a different matter.
4.) not quite
not completely
▪ They weren't quite ready so we waited in the car.
▪ I'm not quite sure where she lives.
▪ Dinner's almost ready, but not quite .
5.) not quite why/what/where etc
not exactly why, what, where etc
▪ I must admit, the play wasn't quite what we expected.
6.) quite a sth/quite some sth
BrE used before a noun to emphasize that something is very good, large, interesting etc
▪ That was quite a party you had last night.
▪ The engines make quite a noise.
▪ It's quite some distance away.
7.) quite a/some time
especially BrE a fairly long time
▪ We've been waiting for quite some time now.
8.) quite right
BrE used to show that you agree strongly with someone
▪ 'I refused to do any more work until I'd been paid.' 'Quite right. They can't expect you to work for nothing.'
9.) that's quite all right
BrE used to reply to someone that you are not angry about something they have done
▪ 'I'm sorry we're so late.' 'That's quite all right.'
10.) quite/quite so
BrE formal used to show that you agree with what someone is saying
= ↑exactly
▪ 'They really should have thought of this before.' 'Yes, quite.'
11.) quite sth
especially BrE used to say that someone or something is very impressive
▪ It's quite something to walk out on stage in front of 20,000 people.
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HINT sense 1
Quite goes before, not after, a or an: quite a short time (NOT a quite short time)
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Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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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 — 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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