Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

fine

noun (1)
\ ˈfīn How to pronounce fine (audio) \

Definition of fine

 (Entry 1 of 6)

1 obsolete : end, conclusion
2 : a compromise of a fictitious suit used as a form of conveyance of lands
3a : a sum imposed as punishment for an offense The motorist had to pay a fine for speeding.
b : a forfeiture or penalty paid to an injured party in a civil action
in fine
: in short

fine

verb (1)
fined; fining

Definition of fine (Entry 2 of 6)

transitive verb

: to impose a fine on : punish by a fine

fine

adjective
finer; finest

Definition of fine (Entry 3 of 6)

1a : free from impurity
b of a metal : having a stated proportion of pure metal in the composition expressed in parts per thousand a gold coin .9166 fine
2a(1) : very thin in gauge or texture fine thread
(2) : not coarse fine sand
(3) : very small fine print
(4) : keen a knife with a fine edge
(5) : very precise or accurate a fine adjustment trying to be too fine with his pitches
b : physically trained or hardened close to the limit of efficiency —used of an athlete or animal
3 : delicate, subtle, or sensitive in quality, perception, or discrimination a fine distinction
4 : superior in kind, quality, or appearance : excellent a fine job a fine day fine wines
5a : ornate sense 1 fine writing
b : marked by or affecting elegance or refinement fine manners
6a : well or healthy : not sick or injured feel fine
b : all right that's fine with me
7 —used as an intensive the leader, in a fine frenzy, beheaded one of his wives— Brian Crozier

fine

adverb

Definition of fine (Entry 4 of 6)

1 : finely: such as
a : very well
b : all right
2 : with a very narrow margin of time or space she had not intended to cut her escape so fine— Melinda Beck et al.

fine

verb (2)
fined; fining

Definition of fine (Entry 5 of 6)

transitive verb

1 : purify, clarify fine and filter wine
2 : to make finer in quality or size

intransitive verb

1 : to become pure or clear the ale will fine
2 : to become smaller in lines or proportions

fine

noun (2)
fi·​ne | \ ˈfē-(ˌ)nā How to pronounce fine (audio) \

Definition of fine (Entry 6 of 6)

: end —used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeat
Other Words from fine Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about fine

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from fine

Adjective

fineness \ ˈfīn-​nəs How to pronounce fineness (audio) \ noun

Examples of fine in a Sentence

Adjective

 “Is there anything wrong?” “No, everything's fine.” The house looks fine to me. I think that's a fine idea. You did a fine job. The house is in fine shape. This is a fine example of what can go wrong when one person is given too much power. He's a fine young man. “Did you hurt yourself?” “No, I'm fine.”

Adverb

 She did fine on the test. My mother is doing fine, thank you. This'll do fine for now. She talks and walks so fine, just like a great lady.
See More

First Known Use of fine

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

circa 1513, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1740, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for fine

Noun (1)

Middle English fin, fyne "end, conclusion, final legal settlement relating to alienation of property, fee paid to complete a legal conveyance, money paid in lieu of judicial punishment," borrowed from Anglo-French fin, going back to Latin fīnis "boundary, limit, terminal point, ending" (Medieval Latin also, "legal settlement, agreement involving payment, payment in lieu of punishment") — more at final entry 1

Verb (1)

in part derivative of fine entry 1, in part continuing Middle English finen "to pay a fine," borrowed from Anglo-French finer "to pay as a fine, make a payment," verbal derivative of fin fine entry 1

Adjective

Middle English fin, fyne "of choice quality, superior, admirable, free from impurity, delicate," borrowed from Anglo-French fin, going back to Gallo-Romance *fīnus "extreme, ultimate," adjective derivative of Latin fīnis "boundary, limit, ending" — more at final entry 1

Adverb

Middle English fyne, derivative of fin, fyne fine entry 3

Verb (2)

Middle English finen, derivative of fin, fyne fine entry 3

Noun (2)

borrowed from Italian, going back to Latin fīnis "boundary, limit, ending" — more at final entry 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about fine

Statistics for fine

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for fine

The first known use of fine was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for fine

fine

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of fine

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: good, acceptable, or satisfactory
—used in an ironic way to refer to things that are not good or acceptable
: very good

fine

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of fine (Entry 2 of 2)

somewhat informal
: not badly or poorly : well enough
: in an elegant and graceful way
: in small pieces

See the full definition for fine in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fine

noun
\ ˈfīn How to pronounce fine (audio) \

Kids Definition of fine

 (Entry 1 of 4)

: a sum of money to be paid as a punishment

fine

verb
fined; fining

Kids Definition of fine (Entry 2 of 4)

: to punish by requiring payment of a sum of money

fine

adjective
finer; finest

Kids Definition of fine (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : very good in quality or appearance a fine swimmer a fine garden
2 : satisfactory That's fine with me.
3 : very small or thin fine print
4 : made up of very small pieces fine sand

Other Words from fine

finely adverb finely dressed finely ground pepper

fine

adverb

Kids Definition of fine (Entry 4 of 4)

: very well I'm doing fine.

fine

adjective
\ ˈfīn How to pronounce fine (audio) \
finer; finest

Medical Definition of fine

of bodily tremors
: of slight excursion

Keep scrolling for more

fine

noun

Legal Definition of fine

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a sum imposed as punishment for an offense — compare restitution
2 : a forfeiture or penalty paid to an injured party in a civil action

fine

transitive verb
fined; fining

Legal Definition of fine (Entry 2 of 2)

: to impose a fine on : punish by fine

History and Etymology for fine

Noun

Anglo-French fin, fine & Medieval Latin finis end, boundary, agreement, payment for release or privilege, monetary penalty, from Latin finis end, boundary

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on fine

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with fine

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fine

Spanish Central: Translation of fine

Nglish: Translation of fine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of fine for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fine

Comments on fine

What made you want to look up fine? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

boilerplate

Listen to the pronounciation of boilerplate

standardized text or formulaic language

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Finance Words Quiz

  • a-piggy-bank
  • The etymology of mortgage is related most closely to which two words?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games