fine
gb/fˈaɪn/ us/fˈaɪn/
A1
English
~ 700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Very good or satisfactory
Very good or nice.
Usage pattern:
[something] is fine
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'fine' to mean 'thin' or 'small' in contexts where 'good' or 'okay' is intended.
Synonyms
good (More general; 'fine' can sound slightly more positive or polite.)
Antonyms
poor (Describes low quality, opposite of 'fine' in this sense.)
Collocations
perfectly fine
|fine weather
|fine job
|look fine
Themes
daily life
|evaluations
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The meal was fine, though not exceptional.
- You did a fine job on the report.
- The weather looks fine for our picnic.
- Everything will be fine after some rest.
- Her performance was fine, but she could improve.
Learner examples
- The food is fine.
- You look fine today.
- The weather is fine.
- My day is fine.
adjective
A2
property
2
Acceptable or adequate
Okay; not bad.
Usage pattern:
[something] is fine with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fine' in this sense with 'beautiful' or 'delicate'.
Synonyms
okay ('Okay' is more casual; 'fine' can sound slightly more formal or polite.)
Antonyms
unacceptable (Not satisfactory or adequate.)
Collocations
it's fine
|that's fine
|fine with me
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- It's fine if you arrive a bit late.
- That's fine with me, let's do it your way.
- The plan is fine as it is.
- I'm fine with whatever you decide.
- Your handwriting is fine for the form.
Learner examples
- It is fine to start now.
- That is fine with me.
- Your idea is fine.
- The rules are fine.
adjective
A1
property
3
Healthy and not hurt
Healthy and feeling good.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is fine
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'fine' instead of 'well' when answering 'How are you?'.
Synonyms
well ('Well' is more common in health contexts; 'fine' is more casual.)
Antonyms
ill (Opposite state of health.)
Collocations
feel fine
|look fine
|be perfectly fine
Themes
health
|body
Examples
- I fell yesterday, but I'm fine now.
- Are you feeling fine after the trip?
- He looked pale, but he said he was fine.
- The doctor said she’s perfectly fine.
- Don't worry, the baby is fine.
Learner examples
- I am fine now.
- She feels fine today.
- He looks fine after the fall.
- We are all fine.
Noun
B1
entity
4
Money paid as punishment
Money you must pay when you break a law or rule.
Synonyms
penalty ('Penalty' can be broader and not always monetary.)
Antonyms
reward (A positive payment instead of a punishment.)
Collocations
pay a fine
|heavy fine
|parking fine
Themes
law
|money
|finance
Examples
- He had to pay a $100 fine for speeding.
- The company faces a heavy fine for pollution violations.
- Late returns will result in a library fine.
- She received a parking fine yesterday.
- Fines are used to discourage illegal behavior.
Learner examples
- I paid a fine for parking here.
- He got a fine for speeding.
- The shop must pay a big fine.
- She has to pay a library fine.
Verb
B1
action
5
To charge money as punishment
To make someone pay money because they broke a law or rule.
Usage pattern:
to fine [someone] [amount] for [reason]
Synonyms
penalize ('Penalize' can include non-monetary punishments.)
Antonyms
reward (To give something positive instead of punishment.)
Collocations
fine heavily
|be fined for speeding
Themes
law
|finance
Examples
- The court fined him $200 for littering.
- Drivers can be fined for using their phones while driving.
- The company was fined heavily for safety violations.
- They were fined for illegal fishing.
- He was fined $50 for late payment.
Learner examples
- The police fined him $50.
- She was fined for parking here.
- They fined the company for pollution.
- We were fined for noise.
adjective
B2
property
6
Very thin or delicate in detail
Thin or with many small details.
Synonyms
delicate ('Delicate' can also suggest fragility.)
Antonyms
coarse (Thick and rough in texture.)
Collocations
fine hair
|fine print
|fine powder
Themes
appearance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She has very fine hair that tangles easily.
- The artist used a brush with a fine tip.
- Read the fine print before signing the contract.
- This flour is very fine and smooth.
- The fabric has a fine weave.
Learner examples
- She has fine hair.
- Read the fine print first.
- This powder is very fine.
- The cloth has a fine weave.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fine
IPA
GB/fˈaɪn/
US/fˈaɪn/
Syllables & stress
fine (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fine)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: fine
- Comparative: finer
- Superlative: finest
Noun
- Base: fine
- Plural: fines
Verb
- Base: fine
- 3rd Person Singular: fines
- Present Participle: fining
- Past: fined
Word family
Forms
fines
noun
fining
verb
fined
verb
finer
adjective
finest
adjective
Core family
finely
adverb B1
Related words
fineness
noun
Advanced or less common
Expressions
cut it fine
1/kˈʌt ˈɪt fˈaɪn/
idiom
informal
Allow little time before deadline/event
To leave only a small amount of time before something happens, often risking being late.
Examples
- We’re cutting it fine if we leave at 8 for the 8:30 train.
- She cut it fine, arriving just as the meeting started.
fine line between [A] and [B]
1/fˈaɪn lˈaɪn bɪtwˈin ə ˈænd bˈi/
fixed phrase
Small difference between two things
A very small difference between two things that seem similar.
Examples
- There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance.
- It’s a fine line between being helpful and being annoying.
in fine form
1/ˈɪn fˈaɪn fˈɔɹm/
fixed phrase
In excellent condition/performance state
Doing something very well; in great condition or mood.
Examples
- The team was in fine form during the match.
- She’s in fine form today, telling jokes nonstop.
that's fine by me
1/ðˈæts fˈaɪn bˈaɪ mˈi/
fixed phrase
It’s acceptable to me
It is okay for me; I agree with it.
Examples
- If you want to start earlier, that's fine by me.
- We can meet at your place if that's fine by me.
levy a fine
1/lˈɛvi ə fˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
officially impose a monetary penalty
To order someone to pay money as a punishment for breaking a rule or law.
Examples
- The authorities levied a fine on the company for safety breaches.
- The court may levy a fine if you fail to appear.
- They can levy fines on businesses that violate regulations.
- Regulators can levy a fine on companies that lie about their products.
- The agency levied a fine for repeated safety violations.