Meaning & use
fine
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Meanings
adjectiveafter a verbinformal
Acceptable or satisfactory, good enough though not outstanding.
Grammar: Follows a linking verb: that's fine; I'm fine.
Patterns
- be fine with something
- be fine for someone
Any time after six is fine with me.
"How was the trip?" "It was fine, nothing special."
The soup is fine, but it needs more salt.
adjectiveafter a verbinformal
In good health, well, or not harmed.
Grammar: Used after be or feel to answer questions about someone's health.
Patterns
- feel fine
- be fine
I tripped, but I'm fine.
My grandmother felt fine after the operation.
Don't worry about the dog; he's fine.
adjectivecomparableformal
Of high quality, excellent, or admired for skill or beauty.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a fine meal, fine craftsmanship.
Patterns
- a fine example of something
- a fine piece of something
It was a fine performance from the young pianist.
The shop sells fine wines from Italy.
She is a fine example of a dedicated teacher.
adjectivecomparable
Very thin, narrow, or made up of tiny particles.
Grammar: Describes hair, lines, sand, powder, or detail.
Patterns
- fine hair
- a fine line
The baby has fine hair that is hard to comb.
A layer of fine dust covered the shelves.
He used a fine brush to paint the details.
nouncountable
A sum of money you must pay as a punishment for breaking a rule or law.
Grammar: Plural: fines. Often used with pay, receive, or impose.
Patterns
- a fine for something
- pay a fine
She got a fine for parking in the wrong spot.
The company paid a heavy fine for polluting the river.
The library charges a small fine for late books.
verbtransitive
To order someone to pay money as punishment for breaking a rule or law.
Grammar: Takes an object and often for: they fined him for speeding.
Patterns
- fine someone for something
- fine someone an amount
The city fined the driver for speeding.
The club fined the player after the incident.
Shops can be fined heavily for selling to children.
Word forms
| comparative | finer |
|---|---|
| superlative | finest |
| plural (noun) | fines |
| third person singular | fines |
| past tense | fined |
| -ing form | fining |
Common combinations
- fine with someone
- If it's fine with you, we'll start early.
- pay a fine
- He had to pay a fine for littering.
- fine art
- She studied fine art at university.
- fine dining
- We celebrated with an evening of fine dining.
- fine print
- Read the fine print before you sign.
- a fine line
- There's a fine line between brave and foolish.
Synonyms and how they differ
- okay
- Okay is even more casual and neutral, while fine can sound slightly cool or reluctant.
- excellent
- Excellent is clearly high praise, whereas fine often just means good enough.
- thin
- Thin describes narrow width, and fine adds the idea of delicate or smooth.
- penalty
- Penalty is broader and covers any punishment, while a fine is always money.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fine or fin?
fine vs fin
A fin is a part of a fish or aircraft; it is not related to fine, although the spelling is close.
Practice
The council ___ the company a large sum for dumping waste in the river.
Choose one answer.
Fine can be a verb meaning to order someone to pay money as punishment. Finished, finest, and refined have different meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.