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Definition of pretty adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Oxford3000

pretty

adjective
/ˈprɪt̮i/ pretty pronunciation American
 
prettier, prettiest1 (especially of a woman, or a girl) attractive without being very beautifula pretty facea pretty little girlYou look so pretty in that dress!2 (of places or things) attractive and pleasant to look at or to listen to without being large, beautiful, or impressivepretty clothesa pretty gardena pretty name prettily
/ˈprɪtɪli/ prettily pronunciation American
adverbThe rooms are simply but prettily furnished. prettiness
/ˈprɪtinəs/ prettiness pronunciation American
noun [uncountable]IDIOMS

as pretty as a picture

(old-fashioned) very prettyShe's as pretty as a picture.as pretty as a picture

come to such a pass

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come to a pretty pass

(old-fashioned or humorous) to reach a sad or difficult stateI never thought things would come to such a pass as this.Things have come to a pretty pass when we can't afford to pay the heating bills!come to such a pass

not just a pretty face

(humorous) used to emphasize that you have particular skills or qualities“I didn't know you could play the piano.” “I'm not just a pretty face, you know!”not just a pretty face

not a pretty sight

(humorous) not pleasant to look atYou should have seen him in his swimming trunks—not a pretty sight!not a pretty sight

a pretty penny

(old-fashioned) a lot of moneyI bet that cost you a pretty penny.a pretty penny
Usage notesThesaurus: beautifulpretty handsome attractive lovely good-looking gorgeousThese words all describe people who are pleasant to look at.beautiful (especially of a woman or girl) very pleasant to look at: She looked stunningly beautiful that night.pretty (especially of a girl or woman) pleasant to look at: She's got a very pretty face.note Pretty is used most often to talk about girls. When it is used to talk about a woman, it usually suggests that she is attractive, but not beautiful.handsome (of a man) pleasant to look at; (of a woman) pleasant to look at, with strong features rather than small, delicate ones: He was described as “ tall, dark, and handsome.” Joan Crawford was a handsome woman.attractive (of a person) pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way: She's a very attractive woman.lovely (of a woman) beautiful; very attractive; (of a man or woman) with a pleasant personality: She looked particularly lovely that night. They really are a lovely couple.note When you describe someone as lovely, you are usually showing that you also have a feeling of affection for them.good-looking (of a person) pleasant to look at, often in a sexual way: She arrived with a very good-looking man.gorgeous (informal) (of a person) extremely attractive, especially in a sexual way: You look gorgeous!attractive or good-looking?If you describe someone as attractive or lovely, you often also mean that they have a pleasant personality as well as being pleasant to look at; good-looking describes only someone's physical appearance.patternsa(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking/gorgeous girl/woman/ladya(n) beautiful/handsome/attractive/good-looking/gorgeous boy/mana(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking facea(n) beautiful/attractive/lovely smile