# quite

/ˈkwaɪt/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 2. completely or very

adverb · CEFR A2

totally or completely. You use this with words that already mean 'finished' or 'perfect' to show there is no doubt.

For teachers: functioning as a maximizer to indicate totality or absolute degree, often used with non-gradable adjectives.

- I am quite sure that I locked the front door before we left.
- The two situations are quite different, and it would be a mistake to apply the same policy to both without further analysis.

Usage: Often pairs with non-gradable adjectives like 'sure', 'right', 'wrong', 'true', or 'finished'.

### 3. to a large degree

adverb · CEFR B1 · American English

very much or to a great extent. This is common in American English to add strength to a word.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to emphasize a large degree or significant amount.

- The new restaurant in town is actually quite good.
- The results of the study were quite remarkable, exceeding even the most optimistic projections of the research team.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'quite' almost always strengthens the adjective, whereas in British English it often weakens it.

### 4. I agree

interjection · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

a way to say you agree with what someone just said.

For teachers: used as a standalone particle to express agreement or to acknowledge the truth of a statement.

- ‘It’s a very difficult situation.’ ‘Quite.’
- ‘The proposed changes seem entirely unnecessary given the current climate.’ ‘Quite; I couldn't agree more.’

## Examples

- The movie was quite good, but the book was better.
- The walk to the station is quite long, so you should leave early to catch your train.
- While the initial results were quite promising, the researchers cautioned that further trials were necessary to confirm the long-term efficacy of the treatment.

---

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.