cute

1 of 2

adjective

cuter; cutest
1
a
: clever or shrewd often in an underhanded manner
" … he's a true patriot and statesman … and a most particular cute lawyer."Thomas Chandler Haliburton
b
: impertinent, smart-alecky
Don't get cute with me.
2
: attractive or pretty especially in a childish, youthful, or delicate way
a cute puppy
a cute smile
3
: obviously straining for effect
The movie's too cute to be taken seriously.
cutely adverb
cuteness noun

cute

2 of 2

noun

: the quality or state of being cute or cutesy
also : an instance of cuteness or cutesiness
usually used in plural
a movie suffering from a case of the cutes

Did you know?

The Unlikely Evolution of Cute

Cute is a word whose meaning has gone has gone through a thorough historical transformation. There is no argument about cute’s derivation: it is a shortening of acute (and was sometimes actually spelled ‘cute). Acute has meant “clever, shrewd” since Shakespeare’s time and has had a set of other meanings as well, but it has never been defined as “attractive or pretty.” The contraction cute first appears in the early 18th century, but only a century later does it begin to take on its distinctive modern meaning; even after 1900 children were still being called cute as a compliment to their intelligence. (Compare the contemporaneous word cunning, with its strikingly similar ambiguity.) A few years into the century, we start to see the word—finally!—in descriptions of puppies and kittens. But the original sense hasn’t completely vanished; in such sentences as “Don’t get cute with me,” cute has nothing to do with adorable sweetness.

Examples of cute in a Sentence

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
Adjective
Actress, writer, producer and comedian Quinta Brunson has teamed up with Sesame Street to create a cute and intergenerational video about how to deal with feelings of overwhelm. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024 And Graham Sporty Stripe Pickleball Bag Serve the pickleball player with this handy (and cute!) bag. Paula Lee, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2024 Marc Jacobs Tote Bag necklace, $95 (Marc Jacobs) Celebrate all things fashion as well as New York designer Marc Jacobs’ 40th anniversary with this cute Tote Bag Necklace. Marques Harper, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 So far, so meet cute, although the script soon adds a dollop of darkness in the way Lena stalks Daniel home. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 The tube is also cute, with a graphic of an ice cream cone. Jessica Booth, Parents, 10 Mar. 2024 Brittany then shared a cute photo of their daughter in a white beach outfit, matching sun hat, and colorful sunglasses. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Easter gatherings are the perfect excuse to buy a cute new dress. Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2024 So, take advantage of the sightseeing sweet spot with the super cute and functional Topo Designs Rover 20L Pack which is on sale for $70, or the colorful and versatile Kavu Women's Rope Bag, another budget-friendly score at 55 percent off. Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
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

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.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

short for acute

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1731, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cute was circa 1731

Dictionary Entries Near cute

Cite this Entry

“Cute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cute. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cute

adjective
ˈkyüt
cuter; cutest
1
: clever sense 3, shrewd
they're not cute enough to fool me
2
: attractive especially in looks or actions
a cute baby
a cute outfit
3
a
: clever in an appealing way
a cute idea
b
: wise sense 3
don't get cute with me
cutely adverb
cuteness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cute

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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