adequately
Adequately (adverb) means In a way that is sufficient to meet a need. Example: “The team was not adequately prepared for the storm.”
adverb
1
In a way that is sufficient to meet a need.
"A loving relationship with a proper companion animal, a relationship that adequately provides for the animal's physical and psychological needs, is not at all inconsistent with the principles and advocacy of animal rights."
— , Companion Animals (2023)
"The team was not adequately prepared for the storm."
"He explained the risks adequately, though not in great detail."
"The small flat adequately housed the family for the first few years."
How to use adequately
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWell enough to satisfy a requirement, though not necessarily impressively.
Common pairings
adequately prepared
adequately trained
adequately funded
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more adequately
- Superlative
- most adequately
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team was not _____ prepared for the storm.
Etymology
From adequate plus -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
inadequately
Related words
Rhymes for adequately
See all rhymes for adequately →Frequently asked questions
What does “adequately” mean?
The word “adequately” means in a way that is sufficient to meet a need. In plain terms, well enough to satisfy a requirement, though not necessarily impressively.
How do you use “adequately” in a sentence?
Here is “adequately” used in a sentence: “The team was not adequately prepared for the storm.”
What part of speech is “adequately”?
“Adequately” is an adverb.
Is “adequately” a common word?
“Adequately” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "adequately" and "sufficiently"?
Both describe meeting a required standard, but "adequately" tends to suggest a bare minimum level that meets a need, while "sufficiently" is more neutral about whether the amount is minimal or generous. In practice the two words are close synonyms and often interchangeable.
Is it redundant to say something was done "adequately well"?
Yes, this is redundant, since "adequately" already means "in a way that is sufficient," so adding "well" restates the same idea. It is clearer to simply say something was done "adequately" or was "done well."
Does "adequately" imply something was done to a high standard?
No. "Adequately" only means a need was sufficiently met, not that the result was excellent. Something described as done "adequately" meets requirements but is not necessarily impressive.
