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.

Season defining styles that are as versatile as they are timeless. PrettyLittleThing is the generation-defining style source for every kind of IT girl. With the belief that elevated women’s fashion should be …

PRETTY definition: pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness. See examples of pretty used in a sentence.

We can use pretty as an adverb, before an adjective or another adverb, meaning ‘quite, but not extremely’. It is informal: …

1. To a fair degree; moderately: a pretty good student. 2. In a pretty manner; prettily or pleasingly.

Apr 9, 2026 · 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.

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 …

Pretty is an adjective that describes something or someone as visually pleasing, attractive, or aesthetically appealing. It is often used to convey a sense of beauty, charm, elegance, or loveliness.

Pretty definition: Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way.

There are 20 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word pretty, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.