# moderately

/ˈmɑdɝətɫi/ (US) · /mˈɒdəɹətli/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to a medium degree

adverb · CEFR B1

to a medium extent; more than a little but less than a lot.

For teachers: to a medium or fair degree; indicating a position on a scale that is neither extreme nor negligible.

- The hotel was moderately priced, so it was perfect for our budget.
- The results of the initial study were only moderately successful, suggesting that the treatment requires further refinement before a large-scale trial.

Usage: Usually placed before adjectives or adverbs to modify their intensity.

### 2. in a controlled way

adverb · CEFR B2

doing something in a sensible way without going to extremes.

For teachers: in a moderate or temperate manner; avoiding excess or intensity in behavior or action.

- He exercises moderately every day to stay healthy without getting injured.
- The minister spoke moderately about the proposed changes, careful not to alienate the more radical members of his party.

Usage: Often follows the verb it modifies.

## Examples

- The room was moderately warm and comfortable.
- The project was moderately successful, meeting most of its initial goals.
- The novel is moderately complex, requiring patience but rewarding the reader with subtle character development.

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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.