moderately
Americanadverb
-
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.
But the characterizations are too flimsy, the world only moderately textured.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Investing around 40% in stocks in your 70s is moderately risky, but many people are more aggressive than that.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Key: Nerd quotient: 🤓 easily accessible; 🤓🤓 moderately intense; 🤓🤓🤓 for the most serious readers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
A more realistic grading might see us talk about moderately processed, heavily processed, very heavily processed, and then ultraprocessed, or something similar.
From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2026
In any case, it was no more than moderately busy on a good, hot, blue-skied, gorgeously promising morning in late July.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
