# fine

/ˈfaɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fine
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. good or healthy

adjective · CEFR A1

feeling well, healthy, or happy enough.

For teachers: referring to a state of satisfactory health or personal well-being.

- I was a bit sick yesterday, but I feel fine now.
- Despite the long flight and the lack of sleep, she insisted she felt fine and was ready to begin the negotiations immediately.

### 2. high quality

adjective · CEFR A2

of very high quality or very impressive.

For teachers: denoting superior quality, skill, or excellence.

- The hotel serves fine wines and local cheeses in the evening.
- The museum houses a collection of fine art that spans several centuries of European history.

### 3. thin or delicate

adjective · CEFR B1

made of very small pieces or having a very thin shape.

For teachers: consisting of small particles or having a very thin, delicate diameter or texture.

- You need a very fine needle to sew this silk fabric.
- The beach was famous for its incredibly fine white sand, which felt like powder beneath our feet.

### 4. legal penalty

noun · CEFR A2

money that you have to pay as a punishment for breaking a rule or law.

For teachers: a financial penalty imposed by a court or other authority for an offence or breach of regulation.

- He had to pay a fifty-dollar fine for parking his car in the wrong place.
- The company faced a substantial fine after an investigation revealed they had violated environmental safety protocols.

### 5. the end of a song

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the place where a piece of music ends.

For teachers: the word or symbol marking the conclusion of a musical movement or piece.

- The choir stopped singing when they reached the fine marked on the page.
- The conductor reminded the orchestra to observe the 'da capo al fine' instruction, ensuring they returned to the beginning before finishing at the designated mark.

### 6. to punish with money

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone pay money because they broke a rule.

For teachers: to impose a financial penalty on someone as a consequence of an illegal or prohibited act.

- The police fined her for driving too fast on the motorway.
- The regulatory body has the power to fine any firm that fails to protect its customers' private data.

### 7. well

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

in a way that is good or satisfactory.

For teachers: in a satisfactory or successful manner.

- Everything is going fine with the new project so far.
- The engine seems to be running fine now that the mechanic has replaced the spark plugs.

### 8. reluctant agreement

interjection · CEFR A2 · Informal

a word you use to say 'yes' even if you are not very happy about it.

For teachers: used to express agreement or acceptance, often with a tone of resignation or mild annoyance.

- Fine, I will do the dishes if you promise to cook tomorrow.
- Fine, have it your way, but don't come complaining to me when the plan fails.

## Examples

- I had to pay a fine for speeding.
- The library charges a small daily fine for books that are returned after their due date.
- The regulatory body imposed a substantial fine on the corporation after discovering several safety violations that had been ignored for years.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.