fine 1 of 5

adjective

ˈfīn How to pronounce fine (audio)
Definition of finenext
1
as in dusty
consisting of very small particles the fine sand found on the island's beaches

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2
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the fine distinction between bravery and recklessness

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3
as in thin
being of less than usual width use a fine line for the outline of the facial features you intend to carve into the pumpkin

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4
as in OK
being to one's liking that arrangement is fine with me

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5
as in pure
free from added matter that silver is .9600 fine

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6
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy making the final fine adjustments on the car's GPS

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7
as in adequate
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the wine steward declared that the complaint of corkiness was unjustified and that the wine was fine

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8
as in small
of a size that is less than average read the fine print

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9
as in excellent
of the very best kind a fine performance of a classic ballet

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10
as in elegant
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste savored every morsel of the restaurant's fine cuisine

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11
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences hearing so fine that it can seemingly hear the tiniest twig snap

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12
as in handsome
having or showing elegance a fine old structure in the city's historic district

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fine

2 of 5

noun

as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment a $50 fine for speeding

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fine

3 of 5

verb (1)

as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty the police will fine you for driving with one headlight out

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fine

4 of 5

verb (2)

as in to filter
to remove usually visible impurities from the use of egg shells to fine wine

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fine

5 of 5

adverb

as in good
in a satisfactory way you did just fine on the stress test

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fine
Adjective
However, after a neat shot on the turn from close range, Kinsky produced a fine stop. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 What to do nearby While the free continental breakfast is fine, do pop over to Madcap Coffee for an excellent roast, or take a short stroll to colorful SPKRBOX, a coffee bar by day that spins vinyl by night. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
Noun
If convicted on the kidnapping charges, both men face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to officials. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 31 July 2026 The charge Dumarce faces carries a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Verb
During his time with Arsenal, Szczesny, as reported by UK newspaper The Independent, was fined after being caught smoking. — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 31 July 2026 Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton has been fined and suspended from attending the team's next five home games, the WNBA confirmed to Fox News Digital. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Adverb
Food and Drink Famed chef Wolfgang Puck is the talent behind the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, Cut New York. — Nina Ruggiero, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026 Colorful fish ponds frame the mahogany open-air dining room—there's a fine-dining menu of Bajan, African, and European fusion feasts. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fine
  1. dusty
  2. subtle
  3. thin
  4. OK
  5. pure
  6. accurate
  7. adequate
  8. small
Adjective
  • The trend intelligence platform said mentions of dusty rose, ecru and gray denim are climbing among key influencers.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • This soft brown lumbar pillow comes with a dusty teal border that makes the aster print pop.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • Unsurprisingly, employees find both subtle and significant ways to reclaim their independence.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • To finish, the server will build a tableside Hong Kong Milk Tea Tiramisu, with milk tea mascarpone Chantilly cream and lady fingers, served with a cup of subtle Hong Kong milk tea.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • The Orioles’ Taylor Ward has been at or near the top of the shopping list for every team seeking a righty-hitting outfield bat since the market for players like him may never have been thinner.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Improperly Drying Flammable Items Drying clothes stained with any type of chemical stains such as gasoline, paint thinner, or acetone is a hazard.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • Not all fiction writers are actors and that is more than okay because voice actors exist and many of them are wonderful.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • So, yes, there’s a reason why most people are right handed and no, not all cats hate water and that’s okay.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 22 July 2026
Definition of OK
Adjective
  • By the logic of pure procurement, AI bills should be shrinking.
    — Roman Shemet, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The pure thermal spring water contains postbiotic microflora, which can calm the skin and reduce redness.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 July 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • With in-store transactions flowing directly to the API, campaign reporting becomes more accurate and AI from Meta can optimize ads based on cross-channel revenue, Lightspeed said.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
  • Note what’s accurate, outdated and what appears repeatedly across different sites.
    — Victoria Marshall, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • Water authorities trying to maintain adequate supplies of fresh water have banned farmers in some parts of the country from pumping water out of canals to irrigate their crops.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Investors also challenged lofty tech stock valuations and doubted whether surging capital spending will generate adequate returns.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • They were first popularized in Georgian England as small tokens of affection, infatuation or mourning, and examples are scattered across major museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Potential monetary policy task force recommendations may involve less transparent communication, a smaller balance sheet with stability risks, and inflation metrics that produce a lower reading.
    — David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of small

Phrases Containing fine

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finds out
fine
fined
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Cite this Entry

“Fine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fine. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fine

Nglish: Translation of fine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fine

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