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.
The 23 hard-to-short stocks I listed in one of my December 2025 columns, for example, have since declined only moderately.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026
“Regional manufacturing activity rose moderately from last month, posting its highest reading since July 2022,” Cortney Cowley, assistant vice president and Oklahoma City Branch executive, said in a statement on Thursday.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
Valerie may be only moderately successful, but she isn’t a hack.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026
On average, its dividend is moderately higher and its valuation somewhat lower than the ordinary S&P 500.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
His brown hair was combed into a moderately high pompadour and had the slick appearance that came with the overly ambitious application of Wild Root Cream Oil.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
