The quite meaning changes with the word it sits next to: with words like right or finished it means "completely", and with words like good or warm it means "fairly" or "rather". So "quite full" is totally full, but "quite nice" might be only moderately nice.
That is why the word causes so many misunderstandings, especially between British and American speakers. In this guide you will get the quite definition for each use, see how tone of voice shifts it, learn set phrases like "not quite" and "quite a few", and pick up the patterns that make it sound natural in English.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
1. Completely, totally. 2. Fairly, to some degree. 3. Very, really (common in US English)Part of speech
AdverbPronunciation
KWYTE, one syllable, rhymes with "white"Origin
Middle English, a form of quit in the old sense "free, clear", from Latin quietusOften confused with
quiet (KWY-uht, not noisy) and quit (to stop)Register
Neutral; very common in British speech
Three senses of quite
- Completely, fully. Used with words that describe an all or nothing state, sometimes called extreme or non-gradable words: quite right, quite sure, quite empty, quite impossible, quite different. "You are quite right" means you are right, no doubt about it.
- Fairly, moderately. Used with ordinary gradable words such as good, big, tired, interesting. In British English "The play was quite good" usually means "good, but not great".
- Very, really. In American English the same sentence often sounds like real praise, close to "very good". Context and tone tell you which one the speaker intends.
As a one-word reply, Quite. means "I agree completely". This reply sounds dry and rather proper, and you hear it more in Britain than in the US or India.
Quite meaning in British and American English
| Sentence | Typical British reading | Typical American reading |
|---|---|---|
| The hotel was quite nice. | Fine, nothing special | Really nice |
| Your essay is quite good. | Decent, room to improve | Very good |
| I am quite sure. | Completely sure | Completely sure |
Indian English often follows the stronger sense: "The exam was quite tough" is usually heard as "very tough". When the stakes are high, such as in feedback to a colleague, a clearer word like very or fairly avoids any doubt.
Everyday examples
- Our new flat is quite small, but the light in the mornings makes up for it.
- Are you quite sure you locked the back door?
- It took quite a while to find parking near the stadium.
- The two job offers look similar, yet the hours are quite different.
- "I can't believe he left without saying goodbye." "Quite."
Patterns and word order
- Quite + adjective: quite cold, quite clear.
- Quite a/an + adjective + noun: "quite a long journey". Note the order: quite comes before a, unlike "a very long journey".
- Quite a + noun: "She is quite a singer" or "That was quite a party" means remarkable, impressive.
- Quite + verb: "I quite like spicy food" (I like it a fair amount). "I quite agree" (I agree fully).
- Not quite: almost but not fully. "The paint is not quite dry."
- Quite a few / quite a lot / quite a bit: a fairly large number or amount, often more than the words suggest. "Quite a few people" can mean many.
Quite, quiet and quit
These three are a common spelling trap for learners and fast typists:
- Quite (KWYTE): an adverb of degree. "It is quite late."
- Quiet (KWY-uht, two syllables): not noisy, or calm. "Please be quiet in the hall."
- Quit (KWIT): to stop or leave. "He quit his job last week."
A handy check: quiet has two vowels sounded separately, so it has two syllables. If you only hear one, you want quite. All three words are actually related, since they share the Latin root quietus, "at rest, free".
How strong is quite compared with other degree words
English has a ladder of degree adverbs. From weakest to strongest in British usage, a rough order is: a bit, slightly, fairly, quite, rather, very, extremely, completely. In American use, quite moves up near very. The stress you put on it matters too: "It was QUITE good" with stress on quite often sounds like less praise, while stress on good sounds warmer.
Small words like this carry a lot of nuance. If you like learning how little words change meaning, see indeed and albeit, or the full everyday vocabulary list.
Frequently asked questions
Does quite mean very?
Sometimes. In American English and much Indian English, "quite good" is close to "very good". In British English it more often means "fairly good". With words like right or sure, it means completely in every variety.
Is quite positive or negative?
The word carries no feeling of its own. It only tells you how much of a quality is present. "Quite rude" is negative and "quite kind" is positive.
What does "not quite" mean?
It means almost, but not fully or exactly. "The cake is not quite ready" tells you it needs a little more time.
What part of speech is quite?
Quite is an adverb. It changes the strength of an adjective, another adverb, a verb or a noun phrase. You will sometimes see it used alone as a reply meaning "I agree".
How do you use quite in a sentence?
Put it before the word you want to adjust: "quite hot", "quite quickly". With a noun phrase, put it before the article: "quite a big house", not "a quite big house" in most everyday speech.
What is the difference between quite and quiet?
Quite (one syllable) is about degree, as in "quite tired". Quiet (two syllables) means making little or no noise. They look alike but are different words with different sounds.