finer; finest
1
a
: all right
that's fine with me
b
: well or healthy : not sick or injured
feel fine
2
: superior in kind, quality, or appearance : excellent
a fine job
a fine day
fine wines
3
a(1)
: very thin in gauge or texture
fine thread
(2)
: not coarse
fine sand
(3)
: very small
fine print
(4)
: keen
a knife with a fine edge
(5)
: very precise or accurate
a fine adjustment
trying to be too fine with his pitches
b
: physically trained or hardened close to the limit of efficiency
—used of an athlete or animal
4
: delicate, subtle, or sensitive in quality, perception, or discrimination
a fine distinction
5
a
: ornate sense 1
fine writing
b
: marked by or affecting elegance or refinement
fine manners
6
—used as an intensive
the leader, in a fine frenzy, beheaded one of his wives—
Brian Crozier
Brian Crozier7
a
: free from impurity
b
of a metal
: having a stated proportion of pure metal in the composition expressed in parts per thousand
a gold coin .9166 fine
1
a
: a sum imposed as punishment for an offense
The motorist had to pay a fine for speeding.
b
: a forfeiture or penalty paid to an injured party in a civil action
2
: a compromise of a fictitious suit used as a form of conveyance of lands
3
obsolete
: end, conclusion
fined; fining
1
: to become pure or clear
the ale will fine
2
: to become smaller in lines or proportions
: end
—used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeat
Synonyms
Adjective
Adverb
- acceptably
- adequately
- all right
- alright
- creditably
- decently
- good
- middlingly
- nicely
- OK
- okay
- passably
- respectably
- satisfactorily
- serviceably
- so-so
- sufficiently
- tolerably
- well
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
Verb (2)
Examples of fine in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a $50 fine for speeding
“Is there anything wrong?” “No, everything's fine.”
The house looks fine to me.
I think that's a fine idea.
You did a fine job.
The house is in fine shape.
This is a fine example of what can go wrong when one person is given too much power.
He's a fine young man.
“Did you hurt yourself?” “No, I'm fine.”
Verb (1)
the police will fine you for driving with one headlight out
She did fine on the test.
My mother is doing fine, thank you.
This'll do fine for now.
She talks and walks so fine, just like a great lady.
Verb (2)
the use of egg shells to fine wine
Recent Examples on the Web
Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Probably best known as the longtime Dior executive who developed its fine jewelry and watch division, Nicolas has also worked at Cartier and Sotheby’s before becoming general manager of Printemps’ flagship Haussmann store in 2021.
—Miles Socha, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
While the pots and pans included in the Factory Seconds sale work just fine, they're sold at a significant discount.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2024
Megan Thomas, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined $25,100, though his sentence was reduced to eight years in prison, and his fine to $15,100.
—Rachel Desantis, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Elias Lopez, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Violations of the federal prohibition on bribing people to vote or register are punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and/or up to five years in prison.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fine 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
That was fine with Bronson, a construction company owner, who wanted tails.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Probably best known as the longtime Dior executive who developed its fine jewelry and watch division, Nicolas has also worked at Cartier and Sotheby’s before becoming general manager of Printemps’ flagship Haussmann store in 2021.
—Miles Socha, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Many peer supporters do just fine psychologically, or even grow and find community, but the practice introduces the risk of burnout and emotional exhaustion, studies suggest.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
While the pots and pans included in the Factory Seconds sale work just fine, they're sold at a significant discount.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 9 Nov. 2024
Verb
He was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution and fined $25,000 for making false police reports.
—Megan Thomas, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined $25,100, though his sentence was reduced to eight years in prison, and his fine to $15,100.
—Rachel Desantis, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
He was ordered to pay $20 million in restitution and a $150,000 fine, the Department of Justice announced.
—Elias Lopez, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Violations of the federal prohibition on bribing people to vote or register are punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and/or up to five years in prison.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fine
Articles Related to fine
Dictionary Entries Near fine
Cite this Entry
“Fine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fine
1 of 5 noun
: a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
fine
2 of 5 verb
fined; fining
: to punish by a fine
fine
3 of 5 adjective
finer; finest
1
: free from impurity
2
a
: not thick, coarse, or dull
fine thread
fine sand
b
: small entry 1 sense 1
fine print
c
: done with extreme care and accuracy
fine measurement
3
: subtle sense 1b
a fine distinction
4
: excellent in quality or appearance
a fine spring day
5
: to one's liking : agreeable
that's fine with me
6
: very well
feel fine
finely
adverb
fine
4 of 5 adverb1
: in a fine manner
2
: very well
did fine on the test
I liked it fine
fine
5 of 5 noun
fi·ne
ˈfē-(ˌ)nā
: end entry 1 sense 1b
—used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeat
Etymology
Noun
from earlier fine "a final agreement to settle a lawsuit," from Middle English fine "end, conclusion," from early French fin (same meaning), from Latin finis "end, limit" — related to final
Adjective
Middle English fin "pure, brought to perfection," from early French fin (same meaning), from Latin finis (noun) "end, limit" as in finis honorum "the height of honor, the highest honor"
Noun
Italian, from Latin finis "end, limit"
Medical Definition
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