- 1 [usually before noun] of high quality; good a very fine performance fine clothes/wines/workmanship 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.) He tried to appeal to their finer feelings (= feelings of duty, love, etc.). It was his finest hour (= most successful period) as manager of the England team. very well
- 2 (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.’ Synonymswellall 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 Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, feel, look, … adverbabsolutely, completely, physically, … See full entry acceptable/good enough
- 3 (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.’ ‘Bob wants to know if he can come too.’ ‘That's fine by me.’ Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, look, seem, … adverbabsolutely, completely, just, … prepositionfor See full entry
- 4 used to say you are satisfied with something Don't worry. Your speech was fine. You go on without me. I'll be fine. ‘Can I get you another drink?’ ‘No, thanks. I'm fine.’ (ironic) This is a fine (= terrible) mess we're in! (ironic) You're a fine one to talk! (= you are not in a position to criticize, give advice, etc.) Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, look, seem, … adverbabsolutely, completely, just, … prepositionfor See full entry attractive
- 5 [usually before noun] pleasing to look at a fine view a fine-looking woman a fine figure of a man See related entries: Attractiveness delicate
- 6 [usually before noun] attractive and delicate fine bone china She has inherited her mother's fine features (= a small nose, mouth, etc.). weather
- 7 (especially British English) bright and not raining a fine day/evening I hope it stays fine for the picnic. Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, turn out, keep, … See full entry very thin
- 8 very thin or narrow fine blond hair a fine thread a brush with a fine tip Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe adverbextremely, fairly, very, … See full entry detail/distinctions
- 9[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. with small grains
- 10made of very small grains fine sand Use a finer piece of sandpaper to finish. opposite coarse person
- 11[only before noun] that you have a lot of respect for He was a fine man. words/speeches
- 12sounding important and impressive but unlikely to have any effect His speech was full of fine words which meant nothing. metals
- 13(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’. Extra examplesGeorge looks fine now. He has done an exceptionally fine job of reorganizing things. Her hair is very fine. I feel absolutely fine. I knew that everything would turn out fine in the end. It’s turned out fine again today. Let’s hope it stays fine for the wedding this afternoon. This paper’s not very good quality, but it’s fine for rough work. a very fine distinction ‘Bob wants to know if he can come too.’ ‘That’s fine by me.’ ‘Can I get you another drink?’ ‘No thanks. I’m fine.’ ‘I’ll leave this here, OK?’ ‘Fine.’ Acupuncture uses fine needles inserted into the patient’s skin. He tried to appeal to their finer feelings. He was a fine man and a fine soldier. His fine blond hair came down almost to his shoulders. I need a brush with a fine tip. It was a fine example of leadership. It was his finest hour as manager of the England team. It’s a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture. She was absolutely fine throughout the pregnancy. She’s a fine actor and an even finer dancer. That summer saw weeks of fine dry weather. The next morning turned out fine again. They enjoy good food and fine wines. This is a fine mess we’re in. You could see the sweat in the fine hairs above his upper lip. You go on without me. I’ll be fine. You’re a fine one to talk! Your speech was absolutely fine. people who enjoy the finer things in lifeIdioms
very good
(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
(informal) to learn to do something well and efficiently I spend so much time travelling that I've got packing down to a fine art.
(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.
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.
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.
Check pronunciation: fine
