fairly

adverb

fair·​ly ˈfer-lē How to pronounce fairly (audio)
1
: in a handsome manner
a table fairly set
2
obsolete
a
: in a gentle manner : quietly
b
: in a courteous manner
3
: so to speak : nearly, practically
fairly bursting with pride
4
a
: in a proper or legal manner
fairly priced stocks
b
: without bias or distortion : impartially
a story told fairly and objectively
5
: to a full degree or extent : plainly, distinctly
had fairly caught sight of him
6
: rather sense 5, moderately
a fairly easy job

Examples of fairly in a Sentence

It's a fairly common disease. I told the story as fairly as possible. He reports fairly on the issues. He beat me fairly and squarely.
Recent Examples on the Web Stray showers stayed to our south for St. Patrick’s Day, nixing any possibility of rainbow sightings, but skies remained fairly bright. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Ohtani’s impact on MLB ticket sales might be fairly compared to the impact of another global star, Lionel Messi, on ticket sales in Major League Soccer, according to StubHub spokesman Adam Budelli. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Since 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards has honored a wide array of media such as film, television, journalism and music that fairly and accurately represent the LGBTQ community, highlighting those individuals who stand at the forefront of the ongoing battle for inclusivity. Jack Dunn, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 No one noticed it for years until a relative in England pointed it out fairly recently. Paul Liberatore, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 The whole process was fairly mundane and often led to restless nights. Sarah Madaus, Allure, 14 Mar. 2024 Being a female pop star in the early 21st century is a fairly uncommon career. Nell Frizzell, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024 What happens behind the scenes on the Wordle team For players, the Wordle experience is fairly simple. Saira Mueller, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 This year, the candidates for the two major parties in the U.S. have been fairly clear from the get-go, as President Joe Biden will be seeking reelection and former President Donald Trump has been head and shoulders above all competitors for the top spot on the GOP ticket. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fairly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fairly was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fairly

Cite this Entry

“Fairly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairly. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fairly

adverb
fair·​ly ˈfa(ə)r-lē How to pronounce fairly (audio)
ˈfe(ə)r-
1
: in a favorable manner
fairly situated
2
: in a manner of speaking : nearly
fairly bursting with pride
3
: in a fair manner : justly
treat each person fairly
4
: for the most part : rather
a fairly easy job

More from Merriam-Webster on fairly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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