Definition of fine adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fine

adjective

/faɪn/

(comparative finer, superlative finest)

Idioms

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very well

(of a person) in good health

‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’
I was feeling fine when I got up this morning.
‘How’s your throat?’ ‘It’s fine as long as I don’t cough.’

Synonyms wellwellall right ▪ OK ▪ fine ▪ healthy ▪ strong ▪ fitThese words all describe somebody who is not ill and is in good health.well [not usually before noun] (rather informal) in good health:

I’m not feeling very well.
Is he well enough to travel?

Well is used especially to talk about your own health, to ask somebody about their health or to make a comment on it.all right [not before noun] (rather informal) not feeling ill; not injured:

Are you feeling all right?

OK [not before noun] (informal) not feeling ill; not injured:

She says she’s OK now, and will be back at work tomorrow.

all right or ok?These words are slightly less positive than the other words in this group. They are both used in spoken English to talk about not actually being ill or injured, rather than being positively in good health. Both are rather informal but OK is slightly more informal than all right.fine [not before noun] (not used in negative statements) (rather informal) completely well:

‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’

Fine is used especially to talk about your health, especially when somebody asks you how you are. It is also used to talk about somebody’s health when you are talking to somebody else. Unlike well it is not often used to ask somebody about their health or make a comment on it: Are you keeping fine? healthy in good health and not likely to become ill:

Keep healthy by exercising regularly.

strong in good health and not suffering from an illness:

After a few weeks she was feeling stronger.

Strong is often used to talk about becoming healthy again after an illness.fit (especially British English) in good physical health, especially because you take regular physical exercise:

I go swimming every day in order to keep fit.

Patterns

all right/OK/fit for something
all right/OK/fit to do something
to feel/look well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/strong/fit
to keep (somebody) well/healthy/fit
perfectly well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/fit
physically well/healthy/strong/fit

Extra Examples

George looks fine now.
I feel absolutely fine.
She was absolutely fine throughout the pregnancy.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

be
feel
look
…

adverb

absolutely
completely
physically
…

See full entry

Topics Health and Fitnessa1

very good

[usually before noun] of high quality; good

a very fine performance
fine clothes/wines/workmanship
It's a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture.
the finest collection of paintings in Europe
She's a fine actor and an even finer dancer.
Jim has made a fine job of the garden.
people who enjoy the finer things in life (= for example art, good food, etc.)
It was his finest hour (= most successful period) as manager of the England team.
This movie features some of her finest work.
He tried to appeal to their finer feelings (= feelings of duty, love, etc.)

Extra Examples

He has done an exceptionally fine job of reorganizing things.
He was a fine man and a fine soldier.
It was a fine example of leadership.
They enjoy good food and fine wines.
Some of Groucho's finest moments occur in the out-takes.

acceptable/good enough

(also used as an exclamation) used to tell somebody that an action, a suggestion or a decision is acceptable

‘I'll leave this here, OK?’ ‘Fine.’
fine by somebody ‘Bob wants to know if he can come too.’ ‘That's fine by me.’
fine with somebody If you don't agree, that's fine with him.
fine with something She has been virtually ignoring me but I'm fine with that.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

be
look
seem
…

adverb

absolutely
completely
just
…

preposition

See full entry

used to say you are satisfied with something

Don't worry. Your speech was fine.
Other than a few damp spots, the place looked fine.
to sound/seem fine
You go on without me. I'll be fine.
‘Can I get you another drink?’ ‘No, thanks. I'm fine.’
Never mind, Jake. Everything will be just fine.
Your hair is perfectly fine the way it is.
fine for something This paper's not very good quality, but it's fine for rough work.
(ironic) You're a fine one to talk! (= you are not in a position to criticize, give advice, etc.)
(ironic) This is a fine (= terrible) mess we're in!

Extra Examples

I knew that everything would turn out fine in the end.
Your speech was absolutely fine.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

be
look
seem
…

adverb

absolutely
completely
just
…

preposition

See full entry

weather

(especially British English) bright and not raining

a fine day/evening
I hope it stays fine for the picnic.
It was a fine sunny morning.
That summer saw weeks of fine dry weather.

Extra Examples

It's turned out fine again today.
Let's hope it stays fine for the wedding this afternoon.
The next morning turned out fine again.

Topics Weatherb1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

be
turn out
keep
…

See full entry

attractive

[usually before noun] pleasant to look at

a fine view
a fine-looking woman
a fine figure of a man
(informal, especially North American English) The boy looks mighty fine in a uniform.

with small grains

made of very small grains

fine sand
Use a finer piece of sandpaper to finish.
The top 8 inches of earth is very fine, made up of river sediment.
Dip in beaten egg then fine dry breadcrumbs before frying in olive oil.

opposite coarse

attractive

[usually before noun] attractive and small or thin

fine bone china
She has inherited her mother's fine features (= a small nose, mouth, etc.).

synonym delicate

very thin

very thin or narrow; made of very thin or narrow wires or threads

His fine blond hair came down almost to his shoulders.
a fine thread
I need a brush with a fine tip.
a fine sieve/mesh

Extra Examples

Her hair is very fine.
Acupuncture uses fine needles inserted into the patient's skin.
You could see the sweat in the fine hairs above his upper lip.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

adverb

extremely
fairly
very
…

See full entry

detail/distinctions

[usually before noun] difficult to see or describe synonym subtle

You really need a magnifying glass to appreciate all the fine detail.
There's no need to make such fine distinctions.
There's a fine line between love and hate (= it is easy for one to become the other).
We still have to iron out the finer details.

person

[only before noun] that you have a lot of respect for

He was a fine man.

words/speeches

sounding important and impressive but unlikely to have any effect

His speech was full of fine words which meant nothing.

metals

(specialist) containing only a particular metal and no other substances that reduce the quality

fine gold

Word Originadjective Middle English: from Old French fin, based on Latin finire ‘to finish’, from finis ‘end’.

Idioms

chance would be a fine thing

(British English, informal) people say chance would be a fine thing to show that they would like to do or have the thing that somebody has mentioned, but that they do not think that it is very likely

the finer points of something

the more complicated or detailed aspects of something
- She seems at ease discussing the finer points of foreign policy.
- He learnt the finer points of cricket during a trip to London.

in fine/good fettle

(old-fashioned, informal) healthy; in good condition
- The team is in fine fettle.
- Park Foods is in fine fettle after selling off all non-core businesses.

not to put too fine a point on it

used to emphasize something that is expressed clearly and directly, especially a criticism
- Not to put too fine a point on it, I think you are lying.

walk/tread a fine/thin line (between A and B)

to be in a difficult or dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake
- He was walking a fine line between being funny and being rude.
- She often seems to tread a thin line between success and failure.
Extra Examples
- His comedy treads the line between shocking and sickening.
- We have to walk a fine line to make sure we don't promote one brand more than another.
- His buildings walk the thin line between visionary and completely ridiculous.

See fine in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee fine in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: fine

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Nearby words

dizzy

adjective

From the Topic

Health problems

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