Quite is an adverb meaning (1) to a moderate or fairly high degree: quite difficult; (2) completely or entirely, used with absolute adjectives and verbs: quite finished, quite right; (3) as a short response expressing agreement: “Quite.”
What Does Quite Mean?
Quite traces back to Old French quite and Latin quietus (at rest, free, clear). It entered Middle English as an adjective meaning “free” or “clear” and was already used as an adverb meaning “completely” by the 14th century. The softer meaning of “fairly” or “to a moderate degree” developed during the 19th century, particularly in British English, and is now the more common everyday sense.
In British English, quite behaves differently depending on the type of adjective or verb it modifies. With gradable adjectives (words that describe qualities on a scale, such as difficult, good, cold), quite means “fairly” or “to a reasonable degree” — it is a moderating word. With absolute adjectives (words that describe an all-or-nothing state, such as right, wrong, sure, impossible, finished), quite means “completely” or “entirely” and is a strengthening word.
This dual behaviour makes quite one of the trickiest common adverbs in English. A British speaker who says “That is quite good” is offering measured praise, while “That is quite right” is full agreement. American speakers often use quite as a near-synonym of very, which can cause cross-cultural misunderstanding.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| This grammar point is quite difficult, but it becomes easier with practice. | A2 — quite + gradable adjective (moderate degree) |
| She speaks English quite well for someone who started only two years ago. | B1 — quite + adverb, giving qualified praise |
| I am not quite sure I understand the question — could you repeat it? | B1 — not quite = not completely; hedging |
| The manager was quite right to raise the issue before the deadline. | B2 — quite + absolute adjective (completely right) |
| Demand for the new product has been quite extraordinary, far exceeding our forecasts. | C1 — quite + absolute adjective used for emphasis in formal writing |
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning & example |
|---|---|
| quite good | Fairly good (moderate praise) — The presentation was quite good. |
| quite difficult | Somewhat difficult — The exam was quite difficult. |
| quite right | Completely correct — You are quite right about that. |
| quite sure | Completely certain — I am not quite sure yet. |
| quite a lot | A considerable amount — She travels quite a lot for work. |
| quite a few | A considerable number — Quite a few students passed with distinction. |
| not quite | Not completely or not exactly — That is not quite what I meant. |
| quite honestly | Used to introduce a frank statement — Quite honestly, I was not impressed. |
| quite frankly | Used to emphasise directness — Quite frankly, the results were disappointing. |
| quite so | Formal agreement — “The deadline must be met.” — “Quite so.” |
Usage Notes
British English vs American English
- British English: “quite good” = fairly good (moderate, not enthusiastic praise). “Quite right” = completely right.
- American English: “quite good” is often used as a strong compliment, closer to “very good”.
- When writing for an international audience, consider whether your reader will interpret quite as moderate or strong.
- The phrase quite a lot and quite a few are exceptions: they both mean a large quantity or number in both British and American English — perhaps more than expected.
- As a one-word response, “Quite.” or “Quite so.” is distinctly British and formal. It sounds old-fashioned in casual speech.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
The meeting finished quite lately. (quite does not modify adverbs ending in -ly in this way)
The meeting finished quite late. (quite + adjective/adverb without -ly inflection)
I am quite agree with you. (quite cannot precede a finite verb directly)
I quite agree with you. (quite precedes the verb, not placed between subject and verb with a gap)
She is quite very good at maths. (quite and very cannot stack)
She is quite good at maths. / She is very good at maths. (use one intensifier at a time)
Quiet, I need to focus. (confusing quite /kwaɪt/ with quiet /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt/)
Quite right — I need to concentrate. (different spelling, pronunciation and meaning)