Word
adequately
Phoneticsad·e·quate·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈædəkwətɫi/
UK/ˈædɪkwətli/
Adverb of manner
Definitions
01sufficiently
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. in a way that is enough or good enough for a particular purpose.
adv. to a degree that is sufficient or satisfactory for a specific requirement.
“The new staff members were adequately trained before they started working with customers.”
“The report adequately addresses the primary concerns raised by the board, though it lacks the granular detail required for a full strategic overhaul.”
Usage
Typically modifies verbs or adjectives to indicate a standard of sufficiency.
Teaching tip
Note the neutral-to-positive tone; it implies 'enough' but rarely 'excellent'.
Antonyms
02barely enough
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. just enough to be acceptable, but not very good.
adv. to a degree that is only just sufficient; meeting the minimum standard without exceeding it.
“The old heater worked adequately, but the room was still a bit chilly.”
“While the candidate performed adequately during the technical assessment, the panel felt he lacked the creative spark necessary for the senior role.”
Teaching tip
In professional contexts, describing someone's work as 'adequate' or 'adequate' can be seen as 'faint praise', suggesting it is mediocre.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “adequately” in context.
Verb
01. adequately address
“The new policy does not adequately address the concerns of the local residents.”
adv + verb
02. adequately control
“The medication was not enough to adequately control his high blood pressure.”
adv + verb
03. adequately deal
“The staff were not trained to adequately deal with such a complex emergency.”
adv + verb
04. adequately describe
“Words cannot adequately describe the beauty of the mountain landscape at sunset.”
adv + verb
05. adequately explain
“The report failed to adequately explain why the project was over budget.”
adv + verb
06. adequately perform
“The machine failed to adequately perform the tasks it was designed for.”
adv + verb
07. adequately represent
“Critics argue that the sample size does not adequately represent the whole population.”
adv + verb
08. adequately respond
“The government must adequately respond to the needs of the aging population.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Many of these activities generate public benefits that market forces alone are unlikely to adequately provide.” “Beyond this zone, vegetation should be pruned, thinned and adequately spaced to avoid flames easily spreading.” “The gaps between defence and midfield were not big, but they were not covered adequately by United.” Etymology
From adequate + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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