fairly

fairly — adverb

1. Between slightly and very on a scale of intensity; used when something is neithe

1.adverbB1
Definition

Between slightly and very on a scale of intensity; used when something is neither weak nor strong in degree, but somewhere in the middle.

Example

The film was fairly entertaining, though the ending felt rushed.

fairly + adjective for moderate degree

Walid's apartment is fairly close to the station, so he walks there most days.

Common collocations
  • fairly good
  • fairly well
  • fairly easy
  • fairly difficult
  • fairly large
  • fairly small
  • fairly close
  • fairly confident
  • fairly clear
  • fairly simple
Synonyms
  • quite

    similar in meaning; slightly stronger in British English, where it can also mean 'completely'

  • rather

    can suggest a slightly higher degree than fairly, often with a tone of surprise or contrast

  • pretty

    informal equivalent; very common in everyday conversation

  • moderately

    more formal and precise; often used in academic or technical writing

Antonyms
  • very

    indicates a much higher degree

  • extremely

    indicates the highest possible degree

Grammar Patterns

fairly + adjective/adverb

Usage Note

Weaker than 'very' but stronger than 'a little'. Commonly modifies adjectives and other adverbs. In informal speech, 'pretty' often replaces 'fairly' (e.g., 'pretty good' instead of 'fairly good').

Common Mistakes

The meal was fairly very tasty.
The meal was fairly tasty.
'fairly' and 'very' cannot both modify the same adjective; choose one degree modifier.

2. Used before an action verb to describe something in a way that is not exactly tr

2.adverbB2
Definition

Used before an action verb to describe something in a way that is not exactly true, but makes the picture in your mind stronger or more colourful — for example, saying someone 'fairly flew' down the street to show they ran very fast.

Example

When the bell rang, the children fairly flew out of the classroom door.

fairly + figurative action verb (flew)

Kabir's heart fairly leaped when he saw the job offer in his inbox.

Common collocations
  • fairly flew
  • fairly leaped
  • fairly danced
  • fairly burned
  • fairly exploded
  • fairly groaned
  • fairly sparkled
  • fairly ran
Synonyms
  • practically

    emphasizes that the figurative description is nearly true in effect

  • virtually

    similar to 'practically'; used to say something is almost the case

  • almost

    more general and less dramatic than 'fairly' in this sense

Grammar Patterns

fairly + figurative action verb

Usage Note

Typically appears with action verbs in literary or narrative contexts to describe figurative or exaggerated actions. Not used in formal academic writing or with stative verbs that describe thoughts or feelings literally.

Common Mistakes

I fairly think this is a good idea.
I think this is a good idea.
'fairly' in this sense cannot be used with ordinary thinking or stating verbs; it requires a figurative action verb.

3. Said of actions that are honest, follow the rules, and treat everyone the same w

3.adverbB1
Definition

Said of actions that are honest, follow the rules, and treat everyone the same way, without favouritism or dishonesty.

Example

The referee tried to treat both teams fairly throughout the entire match.

treat + fairly for equal treatment

Obi divided the remaining snacks fairly among everyone at the table.

Common collocations
  • treat fairly
  • judge fairly
  • divide fairly
  • pay fairly
  • play fairly
  • compete fairly
  • share fairly
  • act fairly
  • distribute fairly
  • decide fairly
Synonyms
  • justly

    slightly more formal; emphasizes moral rightness

  • honestly

    focuses on truthfulness and absence of deceit

  • impartially

    emphasizes not favouring any side; common in formal and legal contexts

  • properly

    broader meaning; can refer to following correct procedures

Antonyms
  • unfairly

    in a way that is not just or equal

  • unjustly

    in a way that goes against what is morally right

Grammar Patterns

verb + fairly

Common Mistakes

The judge treated the two sides fairly equally.
The judge treated the two sides fairly.' or 'The judge treated the two sides equally.
'fairly' and 'equally' are often redundant together; choose one.

4. To the fullest extent; used to express a high level of certainty or clarity abou

4.adverbB2
Definition

To the fullest extent; used to express a high level of certainty or clarity about something, meaning there is little or no doubt.

Example

I am fairly certain I locked the front door before we left for the airport.

fairly + certain for high confidence

The outcome of the election was fairly obvious to most political experts.

Common collocations
  • fairly certain
  • fairly sure
  • fairly clear
  • fairly obvious
  • fairly convinced
Synonyms
  • completely

    more direct and widely applicable across many contexts

  • quite

    in British English, can mean 'completely' in phrases like 'quite certain'

  • entirely

    formal synonym emphasising wholeness

  • perfectly

    often used with 'clear' or 'obvious' (e.g., 'perfectly clear')

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

fairly + adjective of certainty/clarity

Usage Note

Restricted to a narrow set of adjectives expressing certainty or clarity: 'certain', 'sure', 'clear', 'obvious', 'convinced'. Not used with adjectives of size, quality, or emotion (e.g. NOT 'fairly tall' in this sense).

Common Mistakes

I am fairly happy with the result.' (ambiguous — could mean moderately or completely)
I am fairly certain the result is good.
use this sense only with adjectives of certainty; for other adjectives, use sense 1 (MODERATELY).
Idioms

fairly and squarely

idiom

In a way that is honest and follows the rules.

Maya won the race fairly and squarely, without cheating.

Did the judge decide the case fairly and squarely?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Fairly, quite, rather, pretty, and moderately all indicate a degree that sits between 'a little' and 'very'. Fairly is the most neutral option and works across both spoken and written English without any special tone. Quite is similar in American English, but in British English it can carry the stronger meaning of 'completely' in phrases like 'quite certain'. Rather often implies a slightly higher degree than fairly and can add a tone of surprise or contrast ('The test was rather difficult, actually'). Pretty is the informal, everyday substitute — common in casual conversation but avoided in formal writing ('The hotel was pretty nice'). Moderately is the most formal and precise, appearing in academic or technical descriptions ('The patients showed moderately improved outcomes'). For example: 'The meal was fairly good' (neutral, unmarked), 'The meal was pretty good' (friendly, casual), and 'The meal was moderately good' (formal, restrained).

quite ↗ratherpretty ↗moderately

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite fairly
  • more fairly
  • most fairly

Phrases

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Fairly comes from the Old English word 'fæġerlīċe', which originally meant 'beautifully' or 'pleasantly' — combining 'fæġer' (fair, beautiful, pleasant) with the adverbial suffix '-līċe'. In Middle English it gained the meaning 'properly, decently' (the ancestor of today's JUSTLY sense), and by the 1500s it had developed the degree meaning (MODERATELY sense). The figurative-emphasizing sense (FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING) appeared in the 1800s, and the COMPLETELY sense emerged in the 1900s as a further strengthening of the degree meaning.