fairly
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++fair·ly /ˈfeəli $ ˈferli/ ●●● S1 W2 adverb 1 QUITE/FAIRLY[+adj/adverb] more than a little, but much less than very 相当，颇 → quite The house had a fairly large garden. 那幢房子有个不小的花园。 She speaks English fairly well. 她英语讲得还不错。 The instructions seem fairly straightforward. 操作指南似乎很简明。2 FAIRin a way that is fair, honest, and reasonable 公平合理地 I felt I hadn’t been treated fairly. 我感到自己没有受到公正对待。3 British English old-fashionedFAST/QUICKLOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNT used to emphasize the degree, force etc of an action 简直，竟然〔用于强调某个行为动作的程度、力度等〕 He fairly raced past us on his bike. 他骑车从我们身旁一晃而过。Examples from the Corpus
fairly• The house has a fairly big living room.• He was going with some one at the time, but it was a fairly casual relationship from what I could tell.• She was fairly certain that she had been there before.• She reached one arm back and grabbed the rope while Amy fairly clawed at the head.• The disease is still fairly common in many countries.• And yet, if we are asked to multiply by five, we will usually go through a fairly laborious process.• The house had a fairly large garage.• But most religious thinkers accommodated themselves fairly rapidly to the basic concept of evolution.• It was, as Tom had said it would be, a fairly small affair.• Now we are fairly sure that change speeds up at some times, slows down at others.• In contradistinction to concentrating ability, diluting ability is fairly well-preserved in renal failure.fair·ly adverbChineseSyllable
than than less very little, a much but Corpus more
fairly
fair‧ly S1 W2 /ˈfeəli $ ˈferli/
adverb1. [+ adjective/adverb] more than a little, but much less than very ⇨ quite:
The house had a fairly large garden.
She speaks English fairly well.
The instructions seem fairly straightforward.
2. in a way that is fair, honest, and reasonable:
I felt I hadn’t been treated fairly.
3. British English old-fashioned used to emphasize the degree, force etc of an action:
He fairly raced past us on his bike.
▪ rather/quite especially British English more than a little, but less than very. British people often use these words before adjectives in conversation. In many cases they do not intend to change the meaning – it is just something that people say: She seemed rather unhappy. | It's rather a difficult question. | It’s getting quite late. | Malaria is rather common in this area.
▪fairly rather. Fairly is used in both British and American English: The test was fairly easy. | It’s a fairly long way to the next town.
▪pretty spoken rather. Pretty is more informal than the other words and is used in spoken English: Her French is pretty good. | We’re in a pretty strong position.
▪reasonably to a satisfactory level or degree: He plays reasonably well. | Let's just say that I am reasonably confident we'll win.
▪moderately formal more than a little, but not very: Her family was moderately wealthy. | The food was moderately good, but not as good as the food in the other restaurants. | Use a moderately high heat. | a moderately difficult climb
▪somewhat formal fairly or to a small degree. Somewhat is used especially when talking about the size or degree of something. It is often used in comparatives: The celebrations were somewhat larger than last year’s. | He looked somewhat irritated. | a somewhat surprising decision
fair‧ly S1 W2 /ˈfeəli $ ˈferli/
adverb1. [+ adjective/adverb] more than a little, but much less than very ⇨ quite: 2. in a way that is fair, honest, and reasonable:
3. British English old-fashioned used to emphasize the degree, force etc of an action:
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◆ The exam was fairly difficult. 这场考试颇难。 ◆ The exam was quite difficult. 这场考试相当难。 ◆ The exam was rather difficult. 这场考试十分难。 Quite is a little stronger thanfairly , andrather is a little stronger thanquite .Rather is not very common inNAmE pretty has the same meaning and this is used in informalBrE * quite 比 fairly 语气稍强，而 rather 又比 quite 语气稍强。在美式英语中，rather 不太常用。pretty 与 rather 含义相同，也用于非正式英式英语 ：◆ The exam was pretty difficult. 这场考试十分难。 In BrE quite has two meanings.在英式英语中，quite 含义有二 ：◆ I feel quite tired today (= .fairly tired )今天我感到相当累。 With adjectives that describe an extreme state ('non-gradable' adjectives) it means 'completely' or 'absolutely'. 与表示极端状态的形容词（即非级差形容词）连用，意为完全地、绝对地 ：◆ I feel quite exhausted. 我感到筋疲力尽。 With some adjectives, both meanings are possible. The speaker's stress and intonation will show you which is meant. 与某些形容词连用，两种含义均有可能，究竟属于哪一种由说话者的重音和语调决定 ：◆ Your essay is ˈquite good (= .fairly good—it could be better )你的文章还不错（挺好，不过可以更好）； ◆ Your essay is quite ˈgood (= .very good, especially when this is unexpected )你的文章简直太好了（非常好，尤指出乎意料）。 In NAmE quite usually means something like 'very', not 'fairly' or 'rather'.Pretty is used instead for this sense.在美式英语中，quite 通常为 very 之义，而非 fairly 或 rather。表示后一种意思用 pretty。
