It is common in informal speech and writing but is neither rare nor wrong in serious discourse We can use pretty as an adverb, before an adjective or another adverb, meaning ‘quite, but not extremely’ … that's a pretty hat you're wearing The sofa was covered in very pretty flowery material She's got such a pretty daughter She looked pretty in a simple cotton dress.
Pleasing or attractive to the eye, as by delicacy or gracefulness. See examples of pretty used in a sentence. If you describe someone as pretty, you mean that they are attractive She's a very charming and very pretty girl. 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. Find 448 different ways to say pretty, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at thesaurus.com.
See ‘meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. 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. Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way.
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