fine
FYN
Fine (adj) means of high quality; excellent. Example: “This restaurant serves some genuinely fine cooking.”
adj
1
Of high quality; excellent.
"This restaurant serves some genuinely fine cooking."
"He collects fine wines from small vineyards."
"The shop is known for its fine chocolates, made by hand every morning."
2
Acceptable or satisfactory; not causing concern.
""How was the flight?" "It was fine, no delays.""
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine and the car is fine too."
"If that time suits you, it's fine by me."
3
Made up of very small or thin parts.
"Sift the flour to remove any lumps and keep it fine."
"The tailor used a needle with a fine point."
"She brushed the fine dust off the shelves with a soft cloth."
4
Bright and dry, describing weather.
"It's a fine day for a walk along the coast."
"If it stays fine tomorrow, we'll have the picnic in the park."
"After a week of rain, we woke to a fine, sunny morning."
noun
1
A sum of money that must be paid as a penalty for breaking a rule or law.
"He was given a fine for parking on a double yellow line."
"You'll have to pay a fine if you return the library book late."
"The fine for dropping litter here is posted on a sign by the gate."
verb
1
To punish someone by making them pay a sum of money.
"The company was fined for polluting the river."
"The club fined the player for turning up late to training."
"Councils can fine people who leave rubbish outside their homes."
How to use fine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: excellent, acceptable, made of tiny parts, or a penalty payment.
Common mistake
Saying "I'm fine" often just means "I don't want to talk about it" rather than genuinely okay — context and tone matter.
Common pairings
fine print
fine art
pay a fine
fine weather
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Word forms
- Plural
- fines
- Third person singular
- fines
- Past tense
- fined
- Comparative
- finer, more fine
- Superlative
- finest, most fine
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
This restaurant serves some genuinely _____ cooking.
Etymology
From Old French fin ("fine, exact"), probably tracing back to Latin finis, "an end or boundary" — the sense of a monetary fine comes from the idea of a payment that settles a matter and brings it to a close.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fine
See all rhymes for fine →Frequently asked questions
What does “fine” mean?
The word “fine” means of high quality; excellent. In plain terms, depending on context: excellent, acceptable, made of tiny parts, or a penalty payment.
How do you pronounce “fine”?
“Fine” is pronounced FYN (/ˈfaɪ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “fine” in a sentence?
Here is “fine” used in a sentence: “This restaurant serves some genuinely fine cooking.”
What is another word for “fine”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fine” include amercement and amerce.
What part of speech is “fine”?
Depending on how it is used, “fine” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fine” come from?
The word “fine” comes from Latin. From Old French fin ("fine, exact"), probably tracing back to Latin finis, "an end or boundary" — the sense of a monetary fine comes from the idea of a payment that settles a matter and brings it to a close.
Is “fine” a common word?
“Fine” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “fine” have?
“Fine” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of high quality; excellent.
Does 'fine' mean good or just okay?
It depends on tone and context. Said with genuine warmth, "fine" signals real quality — a fine wine or a fine performance is excellent. But in casual replies like "I'm fine," it often means merely acceptable or adequate. The same word can praise highly or quietly damp down enthusiasm, so listeners read the delivery.
What is the difference between 'fine' and 'good'?
Both are positive, but "fine" often carries a note of refinement or high quality that "good" lacks — fine craftsmanship suggests polish and excellence. Confusingly, "fine" can also mean merely satisfactory, while "good" is more consistently and plainly positive. Context decides whether "fine" outranks "good" or falls just short of it.
What are the different meanings of 'fine'?
Beyond "excellent," fine has several senses. It can mean thin or delicate (a fine thread), precise (fine detail), acceptable (that's fine), or, as a noun, a penalty payment. Weather can be fine, meaning clear and pleasant. The adjective meaning "of high quality" is only one branch of a surprisingly varied word.
What is an example of 'fine' meaning high quality?
Phrases like fine dining, fine art, fine wine, and fine jewellery all use this sense — each points to something crafted, refined, and superior. You might also praise a fine performance or a fine example of workmanship. In every case, fine marks genuine excellence rather than mere adequacy.
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