moderately

[mod-er-it-lee, mod-rit-lee]

adverb

1. within reasonable or proper limits; in a way that is not excessive.

   Some of the more moderately priced accommodations are quite pleasingly situated.

2. to an adequate but not great extent.

   We’re moderately well compensated at the factory, but it’s not going to make us rich.

3. to a mediocre degree; fairly; somewhat: moderately chilly temperatures.

   moderately competent dancers;

   moderately chilly temperatures.

Word History and Origins

Origin of moderately¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English moderatliche, moderatly; moderate ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Demascus” isn’t parochial or polemical; the emotional beats are accessible to any moderately sensitive human.

From Los Angeles Times

The prohibitive triple-digit tariffs are now down to just moderately high levels, at least for three months.

From BBC

Her research found that a model did moderately better than outreach workers at predicting.

From Los Angeles Times

China’s film arm said Thursday it would “moderately reduce the number of American films imported” into the country.

From Los Angeles Times

The agency did not specify the number of releases it plans to permit, instead saying it would “follow market rules, respect the audience’s choice, and moderately reduce the number of American films imported.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• a little 
• fairly 
• quite 
• rather 
• reasonably www.thesaurus.com
• slightly 
• somewhat