Adequate
/ˈædəkwət/
adjectiveBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
Sufficient, enough, satisfactory.
/ˈædəkwət/
adjectiveneutralBeginner
General
Sufficient for a specific purpose or need.
The food was adequate, but not exceptional.
💡 Simply: Just enough.
More Examples
2
Her explanation was adequate, though not detailed.
How It's Used
General
"The facilities were adequate for our needs."
Business
"The company's response to the crisis was deemed adequate."
From Latin *adequatus*, past participle of *adequare* "to make equal, equate", from *ad-* "to" + *aequus* "equal".
The word has been used in a similar sense since the 16th century.
Memory tip
Think 'adequate' as 'a-de-quate' - it's 'a' sufficient amount, 'de' - enough for 'quate' - the task.
Practice
adequetadequitaadequate
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written