# adequately

/ˈædəkwətɫi/ (US) · /ˈædɪkwətli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adequately
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. sufficiently

adverb · CEFR B2

in a way that is enough or good enough for a particular purpose.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. barely enough

adverb · CEFR B2

just enough to be acceptable, but not very good.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The room was adequately heated for the winter.
- The new staff members were adequately trained to handle basic customer inquiries before the store opened.
- While the report does not offer a comprehensive solution, it adequately addresses the immediate concerns raised by the board during the previous quarterly review.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.