quite
In British English, "quite" often means 'moderately' or 'rather'. For example, saying something is "quite good" might mean it is okay, but not amazing. In American English, "quite" is more frequently used to mean 'very' or 'completely'. If an American says a movie was "quite good," they usually mean it was very impressive. When used with words that describe an absolute state (like 'finished', 'sure', or 'empty'), "quite" almost always means 'completely'.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon, David is in a high-stakes meeting while Eleanor is at home.
Eleanor Smith
DAVID THE POT ROAST IS QUITE BURNT. WHAT DO I DO
David Smith
Mom, I'm in a sync! Just toss it and order takeout.
💡
Eleanor uses 'quite' to indicate the extent of the damage (completely burnt), while David uses corporate jargon ('in a sync') to describe his meeting, highlighting their contrasting personas and stressed dynamic.