not quite
Close but shy
Not quite means almost but not completely—falling just short of some standard or expectation.
Are you ready?
Not quite.
It softens negation, suggesting near-miss rather than outright failure: The answer's not quite right implies minor error.
Sometimes used for polite disagreement or gentle correction: That's not quite what I meant.
Short of completely
- nearlyAlmost but incomplete
- closeNearby or to shut
- practicallyAlmost but not quite
- virtuallyNearly but not quite
just about · approaching · borderline · sort of · more or less · roughly · approximately · in the ballpark
Being without something
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- falling shortNot meeting expectations
- wantingAbsent or insufficient
deficient · unsatisfactory · coming up short · almost there · close but no cigar · near miss
Dug water source
In truth, not supposedly
- wellDug water source
- ratherSomewhat, or by preference
- more preciselyWith increased accuracy
- in factEmphasizing what's true
strictly speaking · correction · amendment · refinement · qualification · nuance
almost
Short of completely
- nearlyAlmost but incomplete
- closeNearby or to shut
- practicallyAlmost but not quite
virtually · just about · approaching · borderline · sort of · more or less · roughly · approximately · in the ballpark · thereabouts
lacking
Being without something
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- falling shortNot meeting expectations
wanting · deficient · unsatisfactory · coming up short · almost there · close but no cigar · near miss
well
Dug water source
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
- sort ofApproximately, not precisely
- kind ofApproximately, loosely speaking
in a way · hmm · to be fair · with respect
actually
In truth, not supposedly
- wellDug water source
- ratherSomewhat, or by preference
- more preciselyWith increased accuracy
in fact · strictly speaking · correction · amendment · refinement · qualification · nuance
- Feedback Phrasesgood job, well done, nice work, great job, excellent
- approximationsabout, approximately, around, roughly, almost
- not reallysort of, kind of, maybe, hardly, barely
- almostalmost, nearly, about, approximately, roughly
- hedgessomewhat, I think, slightly, I believe, fairly
- losing phrasesgame over, you lose, lose out, defeated, beaten
not quiteexactly
With total accuracy
precisely · completely · fully · entirely · totally
not quitedefinitely
With complete certainty
certainly · undoubtedly · without question · unequivocally · absolutely
not, quite, quietness, disquiet, quits, quieten, unquiet, quietism, quietus