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decent

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈdisənt// UK //dˈiːsənt// de·cent Archaic General-service Informal

adj. good enough or of a high enough standard for what you need. It also describes someone who is honest, kind, and follows social rules.

adj. satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity; conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behaviour.


SIMPLE

I just need a decent meal and a good night's sleep.

CONTEXTUAL

The hotel was basic, but it provided a decent breakfast and a clean room for the price.

COMPLEX

Finding a decent apartment in this city has become increasingly difficult as rental prices continue to outpace the average worker's salary.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French décent, or its source, Latin decēns, present participle of decet (“it is fitting or suitable”), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- (“to take, accept, to receive, greet, be suitable”) (compare Ancient Greek δοκέω (dokéō, “to appear, seem, think”), δέχομαι (dékhomai, “to accept”); Sanskrit दशस्यति (daśasyáti, “shows honor, is gracious”), दाशति (dāśati, “makes offerings, bestows”)). Meaning ‘kind, pleasant’ is from 1902.

Usage

Commonly used in informal speech to mean 'good' without being 'excellent'.

Idioms2 entries

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