nice

comparative nicer · superlative nicest · alternative nonstandard nyc · alternative slang noice

1. informalPleasant, satisfactory, complimentary.First known use 18th c.

   When the party was nice, the party was jumpin' (Hey, Yippie, Yi, Yo)

   1998, “Who Let the Dogs Out?”, performed by Baha Men

   2 more examples

   "It's a lot nicer than going round by the road; that is so dusty and hot," said Diana practically, peeping into her dinner basket and mentally calculating if the three juicy, toothsome, raspberry tarts reposing there were divided among ten girls, how many bites each girl would have.

   1908 June, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, →OCLC

   What's difficult is when you think someone is saying something nice about you, but you're not quite sure.

   2008 April 19, Rachel Cooke, quoting David Lodge, “Nice work”, in The Observer, →ISSN, archived from the original on 23 Jun 2021

   Synonyms: appetising, appetizing, delicious, moreish, scrummy, scrumptious, tasty

2. informalOf a person: friendly, attractive.First known use 18th c.

   You weren’t nice to me this morning.

   1 more example

   Yes, please tell me how Shillary is the nicest corporate oligarchical servant, and how she will lovingly sell out the people who voted for her to her banker masters, with a twinkle in her fellating eye.

   2016 February 13, Gene Lyons, anonymous quotee, “Understanding the 'Bernie Bros'”, in The Daily Journal, volume 83, number 37, page A11

   Synonyms: charming

3. Respectable; virtuous.First known use 18th c.

   What is a nice person like you doing in a place like this?

   1 more example

   She was so nice, in fact, that she wouldn't let me put my hand underneath or even on top of her bra, and so I finished with her, although obviously I didn't tell her why.

   1995, Nick Hornby, High Fidelity, London: Victor Gollancz, →ISBN, page 14

4. informalShows that the given adjective is desirable, or acts as a mild intensifier; pleasantly, quite.First known use 18th c.

   The soup is nice and hot.

   1 more example

   We toted in the wood and got the fire going nice and comfortable. Lord James still set in one of the chairs and Applegate had cabbaged the other and was hugging the stove.

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

5. informalGiving a favorable review or having a favorable impression.

   For Candy Crush Saga, the critics were far nicer than the audience (7.9/10 vs. 3.1/10).

6. informalShowing refinement or delicacy, proper, seemly

   a nice way of putting it

7. obsoleteSilly, ignorant; foolish.First known use 14th–17th c.

   Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice To change true rules for odd inventions.

   c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

8. archaicParticular in one's conduct; scrupulous, painstaking; choosy.First known use 14th c.

   But if I dispense with the dreams of neurotics, my main material, I cannot be too nice [translating wählerisch] in my dealings with the remainder.

   1999, Sigmund Freud, translated by Joyce Crick, The Interpretation of Dreams, Oxford, published 2008, page 83

   2 more examples

   There is nothing he seemed to be more carefull of than of his honesty, and observe a kinde of decencie of his person, and orderly decorum in his habits, were it on foot or on horsebacke. He was exceeding nice in performing his word or promise.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 2, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

   Mr Blifil, I am confident, understands himself better than to think of seeing my niece any more this morning, after what hath happened. Women are of a nice contexture; and our spirits, when disordered, are not to be recomposed in a moment.

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

9. datedHaving particular tastes; fussy, fastidious.First known use 14th c.

   Choice, nice in eating; fastidiosus in edendo.

   1898, Joseph Bosworth, T. Northcote Toller, “cís”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 156

10. obsoleteParticular as regards rules or qualities; strict.First known use 16th–19th c.

    "Good company requires only birth, education and manners, and with regard to education is not very nice. Birth and good manners are essential."

    1818, Jane Austen, chapter 16, in Persuasion

    1 more example

    “Well, my dear,” he deliberately began, “considering we never saw her before, she seems a very pretty sort of young lady; and I dare say she was very much pleased with you. She speaks a little too quick. A little quickness of voice there is which rather hurts the ear. But I believe I am nice; I do not like strange voices; and nobody speaks like you and poor Miss Taylor. ..."

    1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 14, in Emma: […], volume II, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC

11. Showing or requiring great precision or sensitive discernment; subtle.First known use 16th c.

    Why it should have attained such longevity is a nice question.

    2006, Clive James, North Face of Soho, Picador, published 2007, page 242

    2 more examples

    "It's her own funeral, you know," said Sir Lulworth; "it's a nice point in etiquette how far one ought to show respect to one's own mortal remains."

    1914, Saki, Laura

    It would be a nice theological point to try and establish whether Ophis is Moslem or gnostic.

    1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 131

    Synonyms: fine, subtle

12. obsoleteEasily injured; delicate; dainty.

    Synonyms: charming

13. obsoleteDoubtful, as to the outcome; risky.First known use 16th–19th c.

    It has been a damned nice thing - the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life.

    1822 July 28, T. Creevey, Reminiscences

    1 more example

    [W]ere it good / To ſet the exact wealth of al our ſtates / Al at one caſt? to ſet ſo rich a maine / On the nice hazard of one doubtfull houre?

    Is it good / To bet all of our wealth / On one throw of the dice? To place so high a stake / On the risky hazard of one doubtful hour?

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

comparative nicer · superlative nicest · alternative nonstandard nyc · alternative slang noice

1. colloquialNicely.

   Children, play nice.

   2 more examples

   He dresses real nice.

   This riesling's going down nice.

   2002, Gina Riley, Jane Turner, That's Unusual: Scripts from Kath and Kim, Series 2, page 245

alternative nonstandard nyc · alternative slang noice

1. Used to signify a job well done.

   Nice! I couldn't have done better.

   Synonyms: nice one, nice job, good job, bravissimo, bravo, bully, cock on, congrats

2. Used to signify approval.

   Is that your new car? Nice!

   Synonyms: aah, alright, 'ave it, ay, ayy, awesome, aww yeah, boo-ya

alternative nonstandard nyc · alternative slang noice

1. uncountableniceness.

   It is the absence of rules and too much nice that are more likely to produce terror.

   2014, Jean Illsley Clarke, Connie Dawson, David Bredehoft, How Much Is Too Much?, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   She had refused as kindly as she know how, using up as much nice as she had energy for because she was glad of his company when three o'clock rolled around and she started thinking about September.

   2000, Dana Stabenow, Midnight Come Again, →ISBN, page 111

   We could debate forever about whether we have enough of one or too much of another. But I know one thing for sure: We never have too much nice.

   2013, Todd Whitaker, What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most, →ISBN

present singular third person nices · participle present nicing · participle past niced · past niced · alternative nonstandard nyc · alternative slang noice

1. UnixtransitivecomputingTo run a process with a specified (usually lower) priority.

1. A coastal city, the capital of Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeast France.

   The Nice prosecutor’s office told CNN that an investigation has been opened into his death and an autopsy ordered. So far, authorities have not announced any charges related to Pormanove’s death.

   2025 August 20, Joseph Ataman, Pierre Bairin, Philippe Cordier, “French streamer dies live online during extreme challenge”, in CNN

   Synonyms: Nicaea

2. A surname. (pronounced /ni:s/ or /naɪs/)
3. A census-designated place in Lake County, California, United States.

1. UKabbreviationacronymAcronym of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.