fairly
in a fair manner; justly or honestly; impartially.
moderately; tolerably: a fairly heavy rain.
properly; legitimately: a claim fairly made.
Chiefly Southern U.S.
actually; completely: The wheels fairly spun.
almost; practically: He slipped off the roof and fairly broke his neck.
Archaic. clearly; distinctly: fairly seen.
Obsolete. gently; softly.
Obsolete. with respect and courtesy.
Origin of fairly
1Words Nearby fairly
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use fairly in a sentence
On the first question, there’s a fairly long history of research into figuring out a better way of quantifying the balance between fitness and fatigue.
The “test and trace” scheme will be effective only if testing is widespread and if people remain fairly isolated while awaiting results.
Hong Kong’s new mass COVID testing scheme is free and voluntary—and some citizens are suspicious | eamonbarrett | August 26, 2020 | FortuneBy some accounts, she would have received something like 60 percent of the vote if it’d been fairly counted.
Beyond that, seditious language tickets have been fairly well spread out across the city, from Bay Terraces to Rancho Peñasquitos.
SDPD Says it Will Stop Enforcing Seditious Language Law | Kate Nucci | August 17, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoJacob, however, has been fairly critical of Gaspar, her colleague.
One Race Could Make or Break Plans to Overhaul the Region’s Transportation System | Jesse Marx | August 13, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
These were conversations that took a fairly grim twist pretty quickly.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 | Vicky Ward | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWe were barely into the appetizer when he asked a fairly basic question—where did my family live?
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone | Samantha Levine | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTYes, it was a fairly disappointing year in music—one devoid of Goth teen prodigies, Yeezy, and galvanizing rock anthems.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More | Marlow Stern | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNothing will work sensibly, or fairly, until human responsibility is restored as the activating force for all public choices.
At this point, the female rapper comes across as fairly sympathetic—that is, until Azealia Banks grabs the mic.
Solange Smacks Jay Z, Legolas Slaps Bieber, and the Biggest Celebrity Feuds of the Year | Amy Zimmerman | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe big room at King's Warren Parsonage was already fairly well filled.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsThe conversation with the muleteer had been, thus far, carried on in Spanish—which Ernest spoke fairly enough.
It is not quite so level nor so perfectly cultivated as central Belgium, but is generally fertile and promises fairly.
Glances at Europe | Horace GreeleyOrlean was regarded as a fairly attractive woman; but her chin, unlike that of the one before him, was inclined to retreat.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxMy spurs fairly lifted the dun horse, and we scuttled in the opposite direction like a scared antelope.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
British Dictionary definitions for fairly
/ (ˈfɛəlɪ) /
(not used with a negative) moderately
as deserved; justly
(not used with a negative) positively; absolutely: the hall fairly rang with applause
archaic clearly
obsolete courteously
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse