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adv B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

reasonably

REE-zuhn-uh-blee

Reasonably (adv) means In a sensible or fair way. Example: “She argued her case calmly and reasonably.”

adv
1
In a sensible or fair way.
"She argued her case calmly and reasonably."
2
To a fair or moderate extent; fairly.
"The team performed reasonably well given the short notice."

How to use reasonably

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSensibly, or to a decent-but-not-extreme degree ("reasonably good," "reasonably sure").

Common pairings
reasonably priced reasonably confident

Word forms

more reasonably comparative, most reasonably superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She argued her case calmly and _____.

Etymology

From Middle English resonably, equivalent to reasonable + -ly. Piecewise doublet of rationably.

Origin: Middle English

Related words

Rhymes for reasonably

See all rhymes for reasonably →

Frequently asked questions

What does “reasonably” mean?

The word “reasonably” means in a sensible or fair way. In plain terms, sensibly, or to a decent-but-not-extreme degree ("reasonably good," "reasonably sure").

How do you pronounce “reasonably”?

“Reasonably” is pronounced REE-zuhn-uh-blee (/ˈɹiː.zən.ə.bli/ in IPA).

How do you use “reasonably” in a sentence?

Here is “reasonably” used in a sentence: “She argued her case calmly and reasonably.”

What part of speech is “reasonably”?

“Reasonably” is an adverb.

Is “reasonably” a common word?

“Reasonably” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “reasonably” have?

“Reasonably” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a sensible or fair way.

What is the difference between reasonably and reasonable?

Reasonable is an adjective and describes a noun, as in "a reasonable price" or "a reasonable request." Reasonably is the adverb form and modifies a verb or another adjective, as in "she acted reasonably" or "reasonably priced." If the word is describing how something is done, or qualifying another adjective, reasonably is the correct choice.

What is the difference between reasonably and fairly?

When they mean "to a moderate extent," reasonably and fairly are largely interchangeable: "reasonably good" and "fairly good" both mean moderately good. Reasonably also keeps a second meaning — "in a sensible or fair way," as in "he responded reasonably" — where fairly would instead suggest justice or impartiality.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary