Basic Details
Word: Adequately
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Well enough for the purpose; to a standard that is good enough but not more.
Synonyms: sufficiently, satisfactorily, suitably, enough
Antonyms: inadequately, poorly, insufficiently
How to Spell Adequately
Syllables: ad - e - quate - ly
Tricky part: The vowel after d is e, not i, and the e at the end of adequate stays when ly is added.
Watch out for: adequatly, adiquately, adequetly
Memory tip: Keep all of adequate and simply add ly; the final e stays, as it does in lately and completely.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Make sure the plants are watered adequately during the hot months.
Example 2: Was the hall adequately lit for the evening play?
Example 3: He was not adequately prepared for the debate and lost his points.
Fun Fact
Adequate comes from Latin adaequare, to make equal, so equal and equation belong to the same family.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word adequately as used in the sentence:
The old ceiling fan could not cool the crowded classroom adequately in May.
a) loudly
b) sufficiently
c) poorly
d) rarely
Show answer
b) sufficiently. Sufficiently means well enough, and that is the sense of adequately in this sentence.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
ad_qu_tely
a) e, e
b) a, a
c) i, a
d) e, a
Show answer
d) e, a. Spell adequate in full, a-d-e-q-u-a-t-e, and then add ly.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. definately 2. immediatly 3. seperately 4. adequately
a) one by one, not together
b) at once, without delay
c) well enough for the purpose
d) without any doubt
Show answer
c) well enough for the purpose. Adequately is right as written; the others should be definitely, separately and immediately.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If a room is adequately heated, it is ____.
a) warm enough
b) far too hot
c) full of smoke
d) freezing
Show answer
a) warm enough
2. Choose the sentence in which adequately fits best.
a) The adequately dog barked at the postman all night.
b) The bridge was not adequately repaired, so it closed again.
c) Her adequately was the best in the whole class.
d) We adequately our lunch under the old banyan tree.
Show answer
b) The bridge was not adequately repaired, so it closed again.
