moderately
Americanadverb
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within reasonable or proper limits; in a way that is not excessive.
Some of the more moderately priced accommodations are quite pleasingly situated.
-
to an adequate but not great extent.
We’re moderately well compensated at the factory, but it’s not going to make us rich.
-
to a mediocre degree; fairly; somewhat: moderately chilly temperatures.
moderately competent dancers;
moderately chilly temperatures.
Etymology
Origin of moderately
First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English moderatliche, moderatly; moderate ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Beluga males were indeed polygynous, but, surprisingly, only moderately so," said O'Corry-Crowe.
From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026
Let’s say I’m a moderately well-off single taxpayer with an income of $200,000, so I will owe about $37K in taxes.
From Slate • May 11, 2026
BMW said it still expects auto deliveries for the full year to be on par with last year and pretax profit to be moderately lower.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Dan directed a moderately successful sci-fi film several years ago but is now stuck shooting cheesy pop-up ads.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
A moderately handsome black-haired young man stared at her, though, and she willed her face into neutrality while his gray eyes took her in.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
