fairly
fairly Lexical Profile
fairly Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
In a just, equitable, and impartial manner; in accordance with the rules or standards.
"The committee ensured that all applicants were evaluated fairly based on their qualifications."
To a moderately high degree; reasonably or somewhat.
"The instructions were fairly straightforward, so we finished assembling the desk in under an hour."
Completely, positively, or veritable (used for emphasis before a verb to indicate that an expression is scarcely an exaggeration).
"After hearing the good news, she fairly leaped down the hallway with excitement."
Word Nuance & Usage
Unlike 'quite' or 'rather', 'fairly' as an adverb of degree typically modifies words with positive or desirable connotations (e.g., 'fairly easy') and cannot be placed before an indefinite article (one says 'a fairly long walk', not 'fairly a long walk').
• Rhymes for fairly
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English fægerlice, meaning 'beautifully' or 'gently', formed from fæger ('fair') and the adverbial suffix -lice ('-ly'). The sense of 'justly' or 'equitably' developed in the 14th century, while the degree sense ('moderately') emerged in the early 19th century.