quite
/kwait/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adverb:
- To a significant or noticeable degree; fairly, rather: Used to modify adjectives and other adverbs, indicating a degree that is considerable but not extreme.
- Completely, entirely, absolutely: Used to emphasize that something is total, whole, or without reservation, often before adjectives like "right," "different," or "sure."
- Used for emphasis before a noun phrase: Used with "a" or "an" to add emphasis, often expressing that something is remarkable or noteworthy.
Usage and Examples
- As an adverb of degree (fairly, rather):
- The movie was quite interesting. (It was fairly interesting.)
- It took quite a long time to finish. (It took a rather long time.)
- I feel quite tired after the trip.
- As an adverb of completeness (completely, entirely):
- You are quite right about that. (You are completely correct.)
- The two situations are quite different. (They are entirely different.)
- I haven't quite finished my homework. (I have not completely finished it.)
- For emphasis before a noun:
- That was quite a party! (It was a remarkable party.)
- She's quite a talented musician. (She is a very talented musician.)
- We had quite an adventure. (We had a significant adventure.)
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "Quite" vs. "Very": "Quite" can sometimes be less strong than "very." However, with gradable adjectives (e.g., good, big), "quite" often means "fairly." With non-gradable/extreme adjectives (e.g., amazing, perfect, impossible) or with "a/an + noun," it means "completely" or "truly."
- The food was quite good. (Fairly good.)
- The view was quite amazing. (Truly/completely amazing.)
- "Not quite": Used to mean "not completely" or "not entirely."
- The bottle is not quite empty.
- I don't quite understand the instructions.
- "Quite so": A formal expression used to show full agreement.
- "It seems we have a problem." – "Quite so."
Variants and Related Words
- Quieten (verb): (Chiefly British) To become quiet or to make something quiet.
- The audience quietened down.
- Quiet (adjective/adverb/noun): Making little or no noise; calm.
- Please be quiet.
Synonyms
- Rather: To a certain extent; fairly. (e.g., )
- Fairly: To a moderate degree. (e.g., )
- Completely: Totally; in every way. (e.g., )
- Absolutely: With no qualification, restriction, or limitation. (e.g., )
Related Phrases and Idioms
- Quite a few: A fairly large number; many.
- There were quite a few people at the concert.
- Quite something: Used to say something is very impressive or remarkable.
- Winning that award is quite something.
- Quite the opposite: Used to strongly contradict a previous statement; completely different.
- He isn't lazy; quite the opposite, he works very hard.
Adverb
- actually or truly or to an extreme
- was quite a sudden change
- it's quite the thing to do
- quite the rage
- Quite so!
- of an unusually noticeable or exceptional or remarkable kind (not used with a negative)
- her victory was quite something
- she's quite a girl
- quite a film
- quite a walk
- we've had quite an afternoon
- to the greatest extent; completely
- you're quite right
- she was quite alone
- was quite mistaken
- quite the opposite
- not quite finished
- did not quite make it
- to a degree (not used with a negative)
- quite tasty
- quite soon
- quite ill
- quite rich