Word
adequate
Phoneticsad·e·quate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈædəˌkweɪt/
UK/ˈædɪkwət/
Definition
adj. enough in quality or amount for a particular purpose.
adj. satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity for a specific need or requirement.
Examples
“The food is adequate for a quick lunch.”
“The hotel provided an adequate breakfast, though the rooms were smaller than we expected from the photos.”
“While the initial funding was adequate for the pilot phase, the project will require significant private investment to scale effectively across the entire region.”
Examples
simple
“The food is adequate for a quick lunch.”
contextual
“The hotel provided an adequate breakfast, though the rooms were smaller than we expected from the photos.”
complex
“While the initial funding was adequate for the pilot phase, the project will require significant private investment to scale effectively across the entire region.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “adequate” in context.
Verb
01. consider adequate
“The committee did not consider the safety measures adequate for such a large event.”
verb + adj
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive 'to' phrase.
Pitfall
The food was adequate for me.
The food was adequate for my needs.
While you can say something is 'adequate for' a person, it is more common and precise to say it is 'adequate for' a specific purpose or need.
Confusables
Sufficient means you have the right amount; adequate means that amount is just good enough to pass.
RememberSufficient is about quantity; adequate is about quality.
Real-World Examples
“That means some residents will have been left without adequate water for up to a year.” “Why didn’t service members receive adequate mental health support?” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin adaequātus, perfect passive participle of adaequō (“to make equal to”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix)), further from ad (“to, towards, at”) + aequō (“to make equal, equalize”), from aequus (“equal”). Cognate with French adéquat.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
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