fine 1 of 5

adjective

ˈfīn How to pronounce fine (audio)
Definition of finenext
1
as in dusty
consisting of very small particles the fine sand found on the island's beaches

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2
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the fine distinction between bravery and recklessness

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3
as in thin
being of less than usual width use a fine line for the outline of the facial features you intend to carve into the pumpkin

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4
as in OK
being to one's liking that arrangement is fine with me

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5
as in pure
free from added matter that silver is .9600 fine

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6
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy making the final fine adjustments on the car's GPS

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7
as in adequate
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the wine steward declared that the complaint of corkiness was unjustified and that the wine was fine

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8
as in small
of a size that is less than average read the fine print

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9
as in excellent
of the very best kind a fine performance of a classic ballet

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10
as in elegant
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste savored every morsel of the restaurant's fine cuisine

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11
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences hearing so fine that it can seemingly hear the tiniest twig snap

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12
as in handsome
having or showing elegance a fine old structure in the city's historic district

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fine

2 of 5

noun

as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment a $50 fine for speeding

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fine

3 of 5

verb (1)

as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty the police will fine you for driving with one headlight out

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fine

4 of 5

verb (2)

as in to filter
to remove usually visible impurities from the use of egg shells to fine wine

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fine

5 of 5

adverb

as in good
in a satisfactory way you did just fine on the stress test

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fine
Adjective
Sebum plugs or product residue get exfoliated away with fine sea salt crystals. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026 For something a little fancier, the inn offers a fine dining restaurant, Chalet Restaurant (which is more laid back during the day). — Eva Flowe october 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
Last year, federal prosecutors dropped that case after an appeals court threw out a sizable fine imposed by a lower court. — Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Adding the court fine, the NFL fine, and the $160 seized during the sting and forfeited to the task force, York's total cost will be $501,310. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
The late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was suspended for six games and fined $500,000 following a guilty plea to driving while impaired in 2014. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 Some Bolsonaro allies have been fined for environmental violations and campaigned against enforcement. — Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Adverb
In the evenings, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant, Lumi, opens for service, but during my visit the venue was closed due to some staffing issues. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026 The first few eggs came off fine with some batches leaving bits of egg residue on the pan. — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fine
  1. dusty
  2. subtle
  3. thin
  4. OK
  5. pure
  6. accurate
  7. adequate
  8. small
Adjective
  • This East of Eden is a gorgeous production, deliberately stark and vast and dusty rather than lushly floral like the 1955 film.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In one, a dark-haired man played the Camille Saint-Saëns song on a dusty violin while a ballerina in a fanlike feathery skirt danced the part of the swan.
    — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • Poindexter featured his three daughters in his first campaign advertisement for the general election, taking a subtle dig at Miller.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Later still, we are introduced to Satoko Iijima (Ishida), who again shares many defining features with her two namesakes, albeit with just enough subtle differences to keep the audience on the back foot.
    — James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Officials issued the alert Monday after a man shared with police an image appearing to show the dangerous reptile slithering from the thin branch of a tree onto the roof of a backyard shed.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • Sometimes there isn’t enough time, mental, emotional, or physical capacity to take on another commitment, and that’s okay, too.
    — Jasmine Johnson, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Happily, Aesha’s mom is ten years sober, and everyone is okay.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of OK
Adjective
  • Kerry’s pure love for her son despite his precarious origins is a meaningful emotional fulcrum.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Individually, the songs on Beat were largely recognizable in the broader indie rock world—post-rock and shoegaze live alongside torchy trip-hop and pure ambient.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • An in-home assessment can help identify which windows require replacement and provide more accurate project pricing.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Athletic directors and coaches have been scrambling to make sure players are eligible and parental paperwork is accurate.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • For Americans in rural communities, getting adequate health treatment has often been an uphill battle.
    — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Those criteria include having an adequate footprint, ground seismology and access to large quantities of water.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • Only about a dozen countries have active programs, including small Caribbean island states.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The treasurer’s office says the administrative cost of processing very small payments can exceed their value.
    — Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of small

Phrases Containing fine

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finds out
fine
fined
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Cite this Entry

“Fine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fine. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fine

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