moderate
MO-duh-ruht
Moderate (adj) means Neither too much nor too little; reasonable in amount or degree. Example: “Moderate exercise most days is better than occasional intense workouts.”
adj
1
Neither too much nor too little; reasonable in amount or degree.
"Moderate exercise most days is better than occasional intense workouts."
"The forecast calls for moderate rain this afternoon."
"The soup needs only a moderate amount of salt."
2
Holding political views that are not extreme; centrist.
"The moderate candidate appealed to voters on both sides."
"My grandfather has always held moderate views and dislikes loud arguments."
"The newspaper takes a moderate position and avoids extreme opinions."
verb
1
To make something less extreme or intense.
"She tried to moderate her tone during the heated discussion."
"You should moderate your spending until the new year."
"Planting trees can moderate the heat in a busy street."
2
To preside over or oversee a debate, panel, or discussion.
"A journalist moderated the presidential debate."
"Our teacher will moderate the class discussion and keep everyone polite."
"Who is going to moderate the panel at the conference?"
How to use moderate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishReasonable and not extreme — whether describing an amount, a political position, or a calmer version of something.
Common pairings
moderate amount
political moderate
moderate a debate
moderate the pace
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Word forms
- Plural
- moderates
- Third person singular
- moderates
- Past tense
- moderated
- Comparative
- more moderate
- Superlative
- most moderate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ exercise most days is better than occasional intense workouts.
Etymology
From Latin moderatus ("kept within measure"), from the same root as "mode" and "modest."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
immoderate
excessive
Related words
Rhymes for moderate
See all rhymes for moderate →Frequently asked questions
What does “moderate” mean?
The word “moderate” means neither too much nor too little; reasonable in amount or degree. In plain terms, reasonable and not extreme — whether describing an amount, a political position, or a calmer version of something.
How do you pronounce “moderate”?
“Moderate” is pronounced MO-duh-ruht (/ˈmɑdəɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “moderate” in a sentence?
Here is “moderate” used in a sentence: “Moderate exercise most days is better than occasional intense workouts.”
What is another word for “moderate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “moderate” include measured, mellow, middle of the road, mild, nonexcessive and nonextreme.
What is the opposite of “moderate”?
The opposite of “moderate” — its antonyms — is excessive.
What part of speech is “moderate”?
Depending on how it is used, “moderate” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “moderate” come from?
The word “moderate” comes from Latin. From Latin moderatus ("kept within measure"), from the same root as "mode" and "modest.".
Is “moderate” a common word?
“Moderate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between moderate and mild?
Moderate describes something that is neither too much nor too little and stays within reasonable limits, while mild suggests gentleness or a lack of intensity. A moderate amount of exercise is a sensible, middle level, whereas a mild reaction is simply weak or not severe.
Is moderate a positive or negative word?
Moderate is generally neutral to positive, because it signals balance and reasonableness rather than excess. Calling an amount moderate implies it is kept within sensible bounds, and describing a person's politics as moderate simply means they are centrist rather than extreme.
Does moderate mean the same thing in politics as in everyday use?
The two senses are related but distinct. In everyday use, moderate means reasonable in amount or degree, while in politics a moderate person holds centrist views that are not extreme. Both meanings share the core idea of avoiding extremes.
How do you stress moderate as an adjective versus a verb?
As the adjective meaning reasonable in degree, moderate is usually pronounced with a reduced final syllable (MOD-er-it). When used as a verb meaning to make less extreme, the final syllable is fuller (MOD-er-ate). The spelling stays the same in both cases.
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