fairly

[[t]fe͟ə(r)li[/t]]

♦♦♦

1) ADV: ADV adj/adv Fairly means to quite a large degree. For example, if you say that something is fairly old, you mean that it is old but not very old.

Both ships are fairly new (five years old and one year old respectively)...

We did fairly well but only fairly well.

Syn:

quite

2) ADV: ADV adj/adv (vagueness) You use fairly instead of `very' to add emphasis to an adjective or adverb without making it sound too forceful.

Were you always fairly bright at school?...

You've got to be fairly single-minded about it...

I'll have no income and no home and will need a job fairly badly.

Syn:

pretty

3) ADV: ADV before v (emphasis) Fairly is used to emphasize that something happens to a very great degree or extent.

He fairly flew across the room...

For him, the place is fairly boiling with humanity...

Syn:

positively

4) ADV-GRADED: ADV before v You use fairly to suggest that a statement is probably or possibly true, and therefore deserves to be accepted or considered.

It can no doubt be fairly argued that Sir John, whose pay is linked to performance, is entitled to every penny...

After I had read the book I could fairly claim to be an expert.

Syn:

justifiably

5) → See also fair