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Synonyms

fairly

American  
[fair-lee] / ˈfɛər li /

adverb

  1. in a fair manner; justly or honestly; impartially.

  2. moderately; tolerably.

    a fairly heavy rain.

  3. properly; legitimately.

    a claim fairly made.

  4. Chiefly Southern U.S.

    1. actually; completely.

      The wheels fairly spun.

    2. almost; practically.

      He slipped off the roof and fairly broke his neck.

  5. Archaic. clearly; distinctly.

    fairly seen.

  6. Obsolete. gently; softly.

  7. Obsolete. with respect and courtesy.


fairly British  
/ ˈfɛəlɪ /

adverb

  1. (not used with a negative) moderately

  2. as deserved; justly

  3. (not used with a negative) positively; absolutely

    the hall fairly rang with applause

  4. archaic clearly

  5. obsolete courteously

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fairly

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; fair 1, -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She has contributed to New Lines Magazine and other outlets, and has served on the board of East Africa’s international press association, which protects journalists’ rights to do their jobs safely and fairly.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is expected to update France's nuclear doctrine, with a member of his team telling AFP to expect "fairly significant shifts and developments" but declining to give any further details.

From Barron's

The companies are all fairly young, have yet to turn an annual profit, and have yet to broadly commercialize their technology.

From Barron's

Yes, it is fairly typical for governing parties to get a kicking in by-elections.

From BBC

“They create clear, consistent rules so all producers contribute fairly to the cost of recycling and waste management,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times