Adjective
she’s very nice, but she’s not afraid to get cute when there’s something she wants
we’re having a serious discussion here, so cut the cute remarks
Recent Examples on the Web
This was cute and straightforward.
—
Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2023
The Rainbow Crystal Choker by Emma Pills This cute, fun jewelry brand has oodles of items to choose from.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
Aw, cute Van-and-Taissa moment!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2023
Some are funny, some are cute, and all are one line to keep things short and sweet.
—Kelly O’sullivan, Country Living, 25 Mar. 2023
The cut is really cute and makes the bootie pop which is quite a bonus for us 56-year-olds!!!
—Women’s Health, 24 Mar. 2023
There are tons of options out there that will feel just as cloud-like and un-stretch-out-able, look just as cute, and make your legs look equally as good — for a sliver of the price.
—Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, 21 Mar. 2023
Made of 100% coconut coir fiber, the doormat not only looks cute, but also, the stiff bristles will clean the bottom of shoes before entering your home, catching dirt and debris, too.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Mar. 2023
The almost 2-year-old looked too cute in her personalized Australia Zoo uniform that features her name stitched on the front.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2023
How friggin’ cute is that?
—Marci Robin, Allure, 16 June 2022
This is high-octane cute.
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2021
With a backyard this cute, who needs a trip?
—Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 13 Oct. 2020
Duff credited photographer Laura Moll for the cute snap.
—Tracey Harrington Mccoy, Peoplemag, 21 Dec. 2022
And through it all, for two decades, a so-ugly-he’s-cute saber-toothed squirrel has been trying to get his grubby mitts on an acorn.
—Perseverance Apr. 14, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2022
These animals are not the same as their cute-and-cuddly ringed seal counterparts: Leopard seals are toothsome beasts that can grow to nearly 10 feet long.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2022
For Your Secret Santa With over 48,000 ratings on Amazon, these cute-as-can-be sponges are just the best.
—Cailey Lindberg And Brigitt Earley, Good Housekeeping, 6 Dec. 2022
Made of comfy, breathable cotton, the rompers are available in sizes ranging from 0 to 24 months and feature cute-as-can-be prints, from happy fruits to animals.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2022
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘cute.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
There are many words in the English Language that have different grammatical functions and forms. Let us explore this phenomenon a little more.
“Cute” can be regarded as an adjective depending on the context and also the way it is placed in a sentence, however, whether it is regarded as a verb or not shall be discussed further.
Let us explore a little more on this topic with the help of a few facts and examples.
When is “cute” an adjective?
As mentioned before a word like “cute” has a couple forms when it comes to grammar. Let us take a look at one of them.
“Cute” is considered as an adjective when it is used before a noun. Since adjectives are also determiners, “cute” must be used to determine the quality or appearance of the noun in question for it to be considered as an adjective.
Let us take a look at a couple examples on this topic.
| Examples | Explanations |
| 1. Riya is such a cute baby that she got selected for a baby powder commercial without even trying. | When a word like ‘cute’ is used in front of a noun, like in this sentence here, it is inevitably considered to be an adjective. |
| 2. We saw the cutest coffee shop on our way here so we should all go there one of these days. | Since the word ‘cutest’ here is used before a noun and helps the reader in absorbing more information about the appearance and quality said noun, it consequently functions as an adjective. The superlative form of the word ‘cute’ has been used in this case. |
Is “cute” a descriptive adjective?
There are many forms of adjectives in the English Language and “cute” is one of them. Let us take a look.
“Cute” is a descriptive adjective as it is primarily used to describe a certain quality of appearance of the nouns it is used in front of. More specifically, it lends a visual description of a particular state of being to the noun and that description is usually positive.
Let us look at a few examples of “cute” being used a descriptive adjective.
| Examples | Explanations |
| 1. My daughter brought me a very cute mug, on which she had also hand-painted, from her school’s pottery class. | Oftentimes adjectives do not need to be used right before nouns to describe them. As long as they seem to have a direct descriptive function in reference to a noun, even if used a few words after a noun, they are still considered adjectives, that can be seen over here through the way the descriptive adjective ‘cute’ has been used in this statement. |
| 2. The little girl had two cute bows tied up to her hair. | The word ‘cute’ here provides a descriptive quality to the noun it has been used in front of, consequently rendering more information about the state and appearance of said noun, making it, very obviously, a descriptive adjective. |
When is “cute” a descriptive adjective?
“Cute” is a descriptive adjective almost all the time. Since this particular word expands on the state or appearance of being of the noun it is used to describe, it functions only as a descriptive adjective. There are no exceptions to this case.
Let us look at a few more examples on this topic.
| Examples | Explanations |
| 1. That is a cute scrapbook you have got over there, mind if I take a look? | It is quite clear that the word ‘cute’ in this context functions as a descriptive adjective because it lends a descriptive aspect to the appearance of the noun it has been employed in front of, providing further information about the state or circumstance of said noun. |
| 2. Never have I seen a cuter toddler walking across a room to ask all the adults whether they want a candy or not. | The word ‘cuter’ serves as an adjective in this context since it is put before a noun and aids the reader in learning more about that noun. The comparative form of the word ‘cute’ has been used in this case. |
| 3. The couple-to-be learned a cute dance which they would be performing in front of all the attendees as a surprise. | When a word like ‘cute’, as it is in this instance, is employed to describe a noun, it is automatically regarded as a descriptive adjective. |
| 4. My art professor said that my painting is cuter than before but that it still needs a lot more details than it has now. | Sometimes, adjectives do not need to be placed before nouns in order to describe them. The usage of the descriptive adjective ‘cuter’ in this sentence demonstrates that adjectives are still considered to be words that appear to have a direct descriptive factor in relation to a noun. The comparative form of the word ‘cute’ has been used in this case. |
| 5. All mothers think that they have the cutest child in the world. | It is clear that the word ‘cutest’ in this case too serves as a descriptive adjective because it gives the noun it is used in front of a descriptive aspect, revealing more about its situation or state. The superlative form of the word ‘cute’ has been used in this case. |
| 6. The new actress is definitely cute but she does not have enough acting skills to establish herself in this industry immediately. | It is not always necessary to place adjectives before nouns in order to describe them. In this particular line, the descriptive adjective ‘cute’ shows that adjectives are still thought of as words that seem to have a direct descriptive role in relation to a noun. |
| 7. When I was younger my family owned the cutest dog in the world, his name was Bruno and I still miss him every day. | Once again, when a term, such as ‘cutest’ is used to describe a noun, as it is in this sentence, it is automatically recognised as a descriptive adjective. The superlative form of the word ‘cute’ has been used in this case. |
| 8. He is much cuter than I expected him to be so this obviously comes as a surprise to me. | Once again, oftentimes, adjectives do not need to be placed directly before nouns in order to describe them. The usage of the descriptive adjective ‘cuter’ in this sentence demonstrates that adjectives are still considered to be words that appear to have a direct descriptive factor in relation to a noun. The comparative form of the word ‘cute’ has been used in this case. |
| 9. The receptionist gave me this cute bell to ring in case I needed to call her to my aid. | In this given statement as well, it is quite abundantly clear that the word ‘cute’ in this context functions as a descriptive adjective because it lends a descriptive aspect to the appearance of the noun it has been employed in front of, providing further information about the state or visual quality of said noun. |
| 10. That cat sitting on the ledge is so cute! | Here too, the word ‘cute’ is employed to describe a noun, therefore, it is automatically considered to be a descriptive adjective. |
Apart from being an adjective, the term “cute” may not have any other grammatical forms. Let us investigate.
“Cute” is a not a verb and can only ever function as an adjective. There are absolutely no exceptional cases wherein a word like cute maybe considered as anything other than an adjective.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that the word “cute” can clearly only function as an adjective and not much else.
Other forms: cutest; cuter
The adjective cute describes something that’s attractive in a pleasing, nonthreatening way. Things that are small or young are often described as cute, like babies, puppies, or toy fire engines.
Something that’s cute is easy to like. We usually use cute to describe how something looks, like your cute smile or your cute dimples, but you can use it for anything that’s endearing or pleasing, like the boy-gets-girl ending to a romantic comedy. Cute can also refer to something that’s overly clever and a little bit fake. Don’t be too cute when you fill out a college application — the person reading it might not think it’s so funny.
Definitions of cute
-
adjective
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
“a
cute kid with pigtails”“a
cute little apartment”-
synonyms:
cunning
-
attractive
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
-
attractive
-
adjective
obviously contrived to charm
“a child with intolerably
cute mannerisms”-
synonyms:
precious
-
artful
marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft
-
artful
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘cute’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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What do we mean by cute?
Attractive or pretty in a youthful or dainty way. adjective
Sexually attractive; good-looking. adjective
Obviously contrived to charm; precious. adjective
Clever or witty, especially in an impertinent or evasive way, as in falsely suggesting that one is ignorant about the matter at hand. adjective
Acute; clever; sharp; smart.
Clever; sharp; shrewd; ingenious; cunning. adjective
Pleasantly attractive, in a delicate way; — said of children, young ladies, pet animals and some objects, but seldom of adults. adjective
Smart-alecky or impertinent. adjective
Affectedly clever. adjective
Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior. adjective
Generally, attractive or pleasing, especially in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way. adjective
Affected or contrived to charm; mincingly clever; precious; cutesy. adjective
Mentally keen or discerning; clever; shrewd; see acute. adjective
Attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness adjective
Obviously contrived to charm adjective
Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior.
Generally, attractive or pleasing, especially in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way.
Affected or contrived to charm; mincingly clever; precious; cutesy.
Mentally keen or discerning (See also acute)
Most innocent way to call someone pretty Urban Dictionary
Someone really sweet and kind and all you can do is smile when you look at them. Their just so great and cute to be around. Urban Dictionary
Attractive, esp. in a delicately beautiful way; pleasingly pretty; affectedly or pretty or clever; precious; mentally keen; clever; self-consciously cute mannerisms or appeal; Caroline Urban Dictionary
A girl who is lovely and dreamy and cuddly and shy and beautiful and awwww *druels* Urban Dictionary
1. somebody who has the perfect smile. you gaze into their eyes and fall in love. has pretty hair. someone you want to cuddle with all day. someone you want around your whole life. someone who makes you smile. Urban Dictionary
More than just a pretty face, a person who also is beautiful inside and makes others feel good by his/her acts, words or simple presence. Urban Dictionary
1) used to describe little kids doing funny things
2) someone that is attrative in an innocent way
3) used to describe someone or an act that’s sweet, nice
4) something that you just want to squeeze, or keep
5) used to refer to something little, or related to being young
6) someone doing something silly, special Urban Dictionary
1. attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty Urban Dictionary
A girl who has a rounder face, wavy/curly bouncy hair, a sweet laugh, a light smile, who is lovable and caring, kinda shy, can be a loner at times, and is very nice. Urban Dictionary
A girl that whenever you look at just makes you wanna die from the site of her. Urban Dictionary
cute — перевод на русский
/kjuːt/
You’re kind of cute when you say that.
Ты такой милый, когда так говоришь.
He was cute… with a lock of hair… that kept falling over his forehead.
Он был милый, со своей небольшой прядью которая спадала на лоб.
— Isn’t he cute?
— Милый, правда?
And this scarf’s cute.
А какой милый шарф.
Показать ещё примеры для «милый»…
I think the reason Lydia was attracted to the young guy is because he was so cute. [Laughs]
Думаю, Лидия заинтересовалась тем молодым человеком потому, что он был очень симпатичный.
Cute little fellow.
Симпатичный.
Well… looks really cute!
— Да, симпатичный.
— He sure is cute, look at that…
Он такой симпатичный, посмотрите на него..
— He’s so cute.
Такой симпатичный
Показать ещё примеры для «симпатичный»…
Ain’t I cute?
Какая я красивая.
Very cute.
Очень красивая.
— I think she’s cute.
— Красивая дамочка.
Cute little thing, isn’t it?
Красивая машинка, правда?
You’re cute enough as it is. Comb it yourself!
Ты и так красивая.
Показать ещё примеры для «красивая»…
That maid, she’s cute you know.
Та горничная, она хорошенькая.
! — Isn’t she cute?
— Ну, разве она не хорошенькая?
She’s cute.
Она хорошенькая.
So cute!
Такая хорошенькая!
— Isn’t she cute?
— Разве она не хорошенькая?
Показать ещё примеры для «хорошенькая»…
She’s cute too.
Вдобавок, милашка.
— She’s cute.
Какая милашка.
How lovely! Cute.
Какая красивая, милашка.
She’s really cute.
Она просто милашка.
Показать ещё примеры для «милашка»…
Pierrot’s new girl is cute.
-А она миленькая, подружка Пьеро.
Little Red Riding Hood… You are so cute.
= Красная Шапочка… = … ты такая миленькая!
She’s really cute and she’s loaded too.
Она очень миленькая и тоже в теме.
She’s cute!
Она миленькая!
— Pretty cute, huh?
— Миленькая, да?
Показать ещё примеры для «миленькая»…
Isn’t she cute?
Правда, она прелесть?
Aw, isn’t he cute?
Ну разве он не прелесть?
I think it’s cute.
По-моему, он — прелесть.
That’s cute.
ака€ прелесть.
Isn’t she cute?
Разве она не прелесть?
Показать ещё примеры для «прелесть»…
He looks so cute. [Laughs]
— Он такой славный!
Very cute.
Очень славный.
You’re cute as a senior citizen.
Такой славный старичок.
Показать ещё примеры для «славный»…
They’re very cute.
Как это забавно. И в самом деле.
The last time I threw a lamp at him he thought it was cute, but tonight he forgot himself and screamed and the neighbors called the police.
В прошлый раз, когда я бросала в него лампу, он думал, что это даже забавно, но сегодня он вышел из себя и начал кричать а соседи вывали полицию.
«Danger. Men drinking.» it’s cute, Stan.
«Осторожно, здесь пьют. » Это забавно, Стэн.
It’s pretty cute.
Очень забавно.
Nailing a man to a cross ain’t so cute, either.
Распять человека на кресте тоже не очень забавно. Да.
Показать ещё примеры для «забавно»…
— Cute, huh?
— Хороша, да?
You know, honey… you’re awful cute when you get riled.
Знаешь, дорогая, ты невероятно хороша, когда злишься.
She’s cute.
До чего же она хороша!
Really cute !
Действительно, хороша !
You see, Vittoria, you’re now 16 years old and very cute.
Виктория, тебе уже шестнадцать. Ты хороша собой. Но что у тебя в голове?
Показать ещё примеры для «хороша»…