adequately

A1D2E1Q10U1A1T1E1L1Y4

adverb

In an adequate manner.

Opposite
inadequately
OriginProto-Germanic *līką ← Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ← English adequate →
CommonScrabble 23
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Meanings

adverbadequately (comparative more adequately, superlative most adequately)

comparative more adequately · superlative most adequately · alternative archaic adæquately

  1. In an adequate manner.
  2. Sufficient to satisfy a requirement or meet a need; sufficiently; satisfactorily.

    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.

    2023 August 11 (last accessed), David Pearce, “Companion Animals”, in HedWeb
  3. Barely satisfactory or sufficient.

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbin an adequate manner or to an adequate degree

Opposite
inadequately
Also see
commensuratelyindifferentmoderatelyokquitesomewhatsuccessfully

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
  2. Proto-Italic*ad
  3. Proto-Italic*ad-
  4. Latinad-
  5. Proto-Italic*aikʷos?
  6. Old Latinaiquos
  7. Latinaequus
  8. Latinaequō
  9. Latinadaequō
  10. Latinadaequātu
  11. Englishadequate
  12. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  13. Proto-Germanic*līką
  14. Englishadequately

From adequate + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan adequadament, adequadament
  • adequadamentin an adequate manner
  • adequadamentsufficiently
Chinese Mandarin 合乎需要的
  • 合乎需要的 (héhú xūyào de)barely satisfactory
Danish passende, betryggende
  • passendein an adequate manner
  • betryggendein an adequate manner
  • tilstrækkeligtsufficiently
  • tilfredsstillendebarely satisfactory
Finnish asianmukaisesti, riittävästi
  • asianmukaisestiin an adequate manner
  • riittävästiin an adequate manner
  • kelvollisestiin an adequate manner
  • riittävästisufficiently
  • hädin tuskin riittävästibarely satisfactory
French adéquamment
  • adéquammentin an adequate manner
Italian adeguatamente, adequatamente
  • adeguatamentein an adequate manner
  • adequatamentein an adequate manner
  • adeguatamentesufficiently
  • adeguatamentebarely satisfactory
Polish adekwatnie
  • adekwatniein an adequate manner
Portuguese adequadamente, adequadamente
  • adequadamentein an adequate manner
  • adequadamentesufficiently
Russian адеква́тно, удовлетворительно
  • адеква́тно (adekvátno)in an adequate manner
  • удовлетворительно (udovletvoritelʹno)sufficiently
Spanish adecuadamente
  • adecuadamentein an adequate manner
Cite this entry
APA

adequately. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adequately

MLA

“adequately.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adequately. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “adequately,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/adequately.

Source: adequately on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.