Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - pretty

~1 adv + adj/adv spoken 1 fairly, though not completely  (I'm pretty sure he'll say yes. | Life on the farm was pretty tough.)  (- see rather) 2 very  (It's pretty hard to see how we'll manage.) 3 pretty well also pretty much very nearly; almost  (I'd say that's pretty well impossible. | "How is he feeling today?" "Pretty much the same.") 4 pretty near especially AmE almost  (That bout of pneumonia pretty near killed Roy.)  (- see also be sitting pretty sit (6)) ~2 adj prettier, prettiest 1 a woman or child who is pretty is good-looking in an ordinary way  (Susan's certainly a pretty girl, but I wouldn't call her beautiful. | Maria looks much prettier with her hair cut short.) 2 something that is pretty is pleasant to look at or listen to without being very beautiful or impressive  (a pretty dress | a pretty tune | What a pretty little garden!) 3 a boy who is pretty looks attractive in a way that is typical of a girl  (She said,"Oh Nick's the pretty one really.") 4 not a pretty sight often humorous very unpleasant to look at  (After a night's drinking, Al was not a pretty sight.) 5 not just a pretty face humorous spoken to have qualities or abilities as well as an attractive appearance  (I'm not just a pretty face, you know!) 6 come to a pretty pass old-fashioned used to say that a very bad situation has developed  (Things have come to a pretty pass, if you can't say what you think without causing a fight.) 7 cost a pretty penny old-fashioned to cost a lot of money 8 pretty as a picture very pretty 9 pretty pretty BrE spoilt by too much pretty decoration - prettily adv  (Charlotte sang very prettily.) - prettiness n