Pretty is used to tone down a statement and is in wide use across the whole spectrum of English. It is common in informal speech and writing but is neither rare nor wrong in serious discourse. PRETTY definition: pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness.

Understanding the Context

See examples of pretty used in a sentence. Shop the latest in women's fashion and accessories with PrettyLittleThing, the generation-defining style source for every kind of It Girl. We can use pretty as an adverb, before an adjective or another adverb, meaning ‘quite, but not extremely’. It is informal: … 1.

Key Insights

To a fair degree; moderately: a pretty good student. 2. In a pretty manner; prettily or pleasingly. Use the word pretty to describe something with a delicate and pleasant appearance. Something that’s pretty is less powerful and intimidating than something that’s beautiful, the way a pretty floral raincoat is less intimidating than a beautiful film star.

Final Thoughts

The qualifying adverb pretty, meaning "fairly or moderately'' has been in general use since the late 16th century. Although most common in informal speech and writing, it is far from restricted to them, and often is less stilted than alternatives such as relatively, moderately, and quite. When particularly stressed, the adverb pretty serves almost to diminish the adjective or adverb that it modifies, by emphasizing that there are greater levels of intensity.