Meaning & Definition
adjective
attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful.
She wore a pretty dress to the party.
having a pleasant or agreeable appearance; pleasing.
The garden was filled with pretty flowers.
adverb
to a moderate extent; fairly.
The movie was pretty good, much better than I expected.
somewhat; rather.
It's pretty warm outside for this time of year.
Etymology
Middle English 'prettie', of uncertain origin, possibly from 'prætig', meaning 'cunning' or 'sly'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
pretty good:
Fairly good; acceptable.
pretty please:
A polite or humorous way to ask for something emphatically.
pretty much:
Almost; nearly.
Slang Meanings
Used as an intensifier to describe something in a positive light.
It's pretty lit out here!
An informal way to express approval or appreciation.
That movie was pretty dope!