# middling

/ˈmɪdəɫɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈɪdlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/middling
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

of average or medium quality. You use this to describe something that is neither very good nor very bad.

For teachers: of moderate or average quality, size, or value. Often used to describe a person's character or a product's performance.

## Examples

- The hotel was middling, nothing special but not bad.
- The restaurant received middling reviews because the food was decent, but the service was slow and the prices were high.
- While the protagonist is not a hero in the traditional sense, his middling nature makes him a relatable figure for the audience, as he often struggles with the same moral dilemmas faced by ordinary people.

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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.