adjective

adequate

AD-ih-kwuht

adjective

Enough to meet a need or requirement; sufficient.

"The salary was adequate to cover their basic living costs."

"Make sure there is adequate lighting in the stairwell."

How to Use Adequate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishJust enough — meeting the minimum standard needed, without necessarily being impressive.

Common mistake

Adequate often implies "just barely enough," not "excellent" — don't use it as a compliment if you mean something is great.

Common pairings

adequate supply adequate protection more than adequate

more adequate comparative, adequated past tense, adequates singular, most adequate superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The salary was _____ to cover their basic living costs.

From Latin adaequatus, "made equal to," from adaequare, "to make equal," from ad- ("to") plus aequare ("to equalize").

ate date rate mate fate gate hate pate late Nate Kate cate