1
: wholly, completely
not quite finished
2
: to an extreme : positively
quite sure
—often used as an intensifier with aquite a swell guy
quite a beauty
3
: to a considerable extent : rather
quite near
see also:
Examples of quite in a Sentence
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
In my opinion, my work … ain't quite good enough …
—William Faulkner, in Faulkner in the University, (1959) 1977
Irene Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty
—John O'Hara, letter, 30 Dec. 1963
“Are you quite finished?” “Not quite.”
I am quite capable of doing it myself, thank you.
They assured me that I was quite mistaken.
We hadn't quite made up our minds.
She's quite right, you know.
I quite forgot your birthday.
No one realized quite what was happening.
Quite why he left is unclear.
That is not quite what I said.
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
In my opinion, my work … ain't quite good enough …
—William Faulkner, in Faulkner in the University, (1959) 1977
Irene Franey, a little older than I, was quite a beauty
—John O'Hara, letter, 30 Dec. 1963
“Are you quite finished?” “Not quite.”
I am quite capable of doing it myself, thank you.
They assured me that I was quite mistaken.
We hadn't quite made up our minds.
She's quite right, you know.
I quite forgot your birthday.
No one realized quite what was happening.
Quite why he left is unclear.
That is not quite what I said.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Knife was in fact quite cheap, surprisingly bendy and light.
—Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
Presenting this ask as part of a familial obligation doesn’t quite sit right.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
With Boston not quite looking sharp and Denver out, the Spurs are a logical and worthy second team in the odds behind Oklahoma City to win the NBA title.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 May 2026
For families There are no age restrictions for younger guests, although the atmosphere is quite calm and grown-up plus there are no specific children’s amenities or facilities in the restaurant.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quite
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Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
Presenting this ask as part of a familial obligation doesn’t quite sit right.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
With Boston not quite looking sharp and Denver out, the Spurs are a logical and worthy second team in the odds behind Oklahoma City to win the NBA title.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 May 2026
For families There are no age restrictions for younger guests, although the atmosphere is quite calm and grown-up plus there are no specific children’s amenities or facilities in the restaurant.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for quite
Cite this Entry
“Quite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quite. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quite
adverb1
: beyond question or doubt : completely
quite alone
quite sure
2
: more or less sense 1, rather
we live quite near the school
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
