Decent is used to describe something which is considered to be of an acceptable standard or quality.
Nearby is a village with a decent pub.
He didn't get a decent explanation.
The lack of a decent education did not defeat Rey.
Synonyms: satisfactory, average, fair, all right More Synonyms of decent
decentlyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, Also ADV adj]
The allies say they will treat their prisoners decently.
This year's festival can boast a decently long list of sponsors.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Decent is used to describe something which is morally correct or acceptable.
But, after a decent interval, trade relations began to return to normal.
As soon as it was decent, he turned and left the cemetery.
decentlyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, Also ADV adj]
There were at least four hours before he could decently go to the pub.
And can't you dress more decently–people will think you're a tramp.
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Decent people are honest and behave in a way that most people approve of.
The majority of people around here are decent people.
The jury will see what a decent guy he is.
Synonyms: good, kind, friendly, neighbourly More Synonyms of decent
4.
See do the decent thing
More Synonyms of decent
decent in British English
(ˈdiːsənt)
adjective
1.
polite or respectable
a decent family
2.
proper and suitable; fitting
a decent burial
3.
conforming to conventions of sexual behaviour; not indecent
4.
free of oaths, blasphemy, etc
decent language
5.
good or adequate
a decent wage
6. informal
kind; generous
he was pretty decent to me
7. informal
sufficiently clothed to be seen by other people
are you decent?
Derived forms
decently (ˈdecently)
adverb
decentness (ˈdecentness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin decēns suitable, from decēre to be fitting
decent in American English
(ˈdisənt)
adjective
1.
proper and fitting
a decent burial
2.
not immodest; not obscene; chaste
decent language
3.
conforming to approved social standards; respectable
decent apparel
4.
reasonably good; adequate
decent wages
5.
fair and kind
decent treatment
6. Informal
adequately clothed for propriety
SIMILAR WORDS: chaste
Derived forms
decently (ˈdecently)
adverb
Word origin
MFr décent < L decens (gen decentis), prp. of decere, to befit < IE base *de-, to receive, greet, be suitable, teach > Sans dkšati, (he) is helpful, L docere, to teach, Gr dokein, to think, seem
Examples of 'decent' in a sentence
decent
You had to be on your mettle to get a decent seat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your reputation for being a decent guy may be gone already where your colleagues are concerned.
The Sun (2016)
It's decent banter and people always come for me.
The Sun (2016)
He just struck me as a genuinely decent, kind man.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Decent people here are disgusted.
The Sun (2016)
There's a decent chance he's well weighted.
The Sun (2016)
If he can bounce back to his Wetherby form, he goes there with a really decent chance.
The Sun (2017)
At least it gave the guys one decent story about the time they met a World Cup winner.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They came away and did a decent job.
The Sun (2011)
The depth to which you sank is astounding and highly shocking to all decent people.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We were brought up to be decent and honest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The furlong shorter distance and sharper track are in his favour so he has a decent chance.
The Sun (2015)
There has to be something decent in there.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You have to give these guys a decent shot.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They will grow up without access to decent education or medicine or housing.
Christianity Today (2000)
No question it needs a decent kit man.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He should be given a decent burial and shown due respect.
The Sun (2013)
And he has done a pretty decent job.
The Sun (2012)
They attempt to keep the politics of their own land honest and decent.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It was a decent chance and should have been taken.
The Sun (2012)
Something other than decent attributes will be required if the exceptional is to be attained.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Think about why you wreck things with decent guys.
The Sun (2013)
By all accounts he was a decent man.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The bond allows them to do that - and get a decent return.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They were so polite and spoke decent English.
The Sun (2009)
You can see this house is a decent, normal household.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
decent
British English: decent /ˈdiːsnt/ ADJECTIVE
Decent means acceptable in standard or quality.
He didn't get a decent explanation.
American English: decent
Arabic: مُحْتَرَم
Brazilian Portuguese: decente
Chinese: 像样的
Croatian: pristojan
Czech: ucházející
Danish: anstændig
Dutch: fatsoenlijk
European Spanish: decente
Finnish: kunnollinen
French: décent
German: anständig
Greek: αξιοπρεπής
Italian: decente
Japanese: きちんとした
Korean: 신분에 맞는
Norwegian: anstendig
Polish: przyzwoity
European Portuguese: decente
Romanian: adecvat
Russian: пристойный
Latin American Spanish: decente
Swedish: hygglig
Thai: เหมาะสม
Turkish: uygun
Ukrainian: достойний
Vietnamese: nghiêm chỉnh
All related terms of 'decent'
decent folk
You can refer to people as folk or folks .
decent job
Decent is used to describe something which is considered to be of an acceptable standard or quality.
decent meal
A meal is the food you eat during a meal.
decent size
The size of something is how big or small it is. Something's size is determined by comparing it to other things, counting it, or measuring it.
decent wage
Someone's wages are the amount of money that is regularly paid to them for the work that they do.
decent bloke
A bloke is a man.
decent effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
decent shape
Decent is used to describe something which is considered to be of an acceptable standard or quality.
decent standard
A standard is a level of quality or achievement , especially a level that is thought to be acceptable .
decent education
Education involves teaching people various subjects, usually at a school or college , or being taught .
do the decent thing
If you say that someone should do the decent thing , you mean that they should do something which they do not really want to do, but which you think they ought to do.
do the decent/democratic/right/wrong/honourable thing
If, for example , you do the right thing or do the decent thing in a situation , you do something which is considered correct or socially acceptable in that situation.
Chinese translation of 'decent'
decent
(ˈdiːsənt)
adj
(= proper)
[education, wages, English etc]体(體)面的 (tǐmiàn de)
[interval, behaviour]适(適)当(當)的 (shìdàng de)
(= honest)[person]受尊重的 (shòu zūnzhòng de)
to do the decent thing识(識)时(時)务(務) (shí shíwù)
they were very decent about it他们(們)对(對)此很公正 (tāmen duì cǐ hěn gōngzhèng)
that was very decent of him他那么(麼)做真是个(個)好人 (tā nàme zuò zhēn shì gè hǎorén)
are you decent? (inf, = dressed) 你穿戴像样(樣)吗(嗎)？ (Nǐ chuāndài xiàngyàng ma?)
1 (adjective)
Definition
conforming to an acceptable standard or quality
Nearby there is a village with a decent restaurant.
Synonyms
satisfactory
I never got a satisfactory answer.
average
I was only average academically.
fair
He had a fair command of English.
all right
`How was the school you attended?' `It was all right.'
reasonable
The boy answered him in reasonable French.
suitable
sufficient
There was not sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
acceptable
There was one restaurant that looked acceptable.
good enough
adequate
One in four people are without adequate homes.
competent
I don't feel competent to deal with a medical emergency.
ample
The design gave ample space for a good-sized kitchen.
tolerable (informal)
Is there anywhere tolerable to eat in town?
up to scratch
passable
The meal was passable, but nothing special.
up to standard
up to the mark
They get rid of those whose work isn't up to the mark.
Opposites
unsatisfactory
,
inept
2 (adjective)
Definition
fitting or proper
After a decent interval they invited their new neighbours round for dinner.
Synonyms
proper
In those days it was not thought proper for a woman to be on the stage.
becoming
This behaviour is not becoming among our politicians.
seemly
It wasn't seemly for them to be seen together.
fitting
The President's address was a fitting end to the campaign.
fit
You're not fit to be in charge of this company.
appropriate
It is appropriate that Irish names dominate the list.
suitable
She had no other dress suitable for the occasion.
respectable
befitting
decorous
The politician was wearing a suitably decorous expression.
comme il faut (French)
Opposites
incorrect
,
indecent
,
unsuitable
,
improper
,
unseemly
,
immodest
3 (adjective)
Definition
kind
(informal)
Most people around here are decent folk.
Synonyms
good
It's very good of you to help out at such short notice.
kind
He was a very kind man, full of common sense.
friendly
He has been friendly to me.
neighbourly
I invited them to dinner as a neighbourly gesture of goodwill.
generous
He was not generous enough to congratulate his successor.
helpful
The staff in the London office are helpful.
obliging
He was a most polite and obliging young man.
accommodating
Not every friend is so accommodating.
sympathetic
comradely
He gave her a comradely grin.
benign
Critics of the scheme take a less benign view.
gracious
He is always a gracious host.
benevolent
a most benevolent employer
courteous
amiable
She had been surprised at how amiable and polite he had seemed.
amicable
The meeting ended on reasonably amicable terms.
sociable
Some children have more sociable personalities than others.
genial
He was a warm-hearted friend and a genial host.
peaceable
Many normally peaceable people were outraged.
companionable
They stood around the room chatting in small companionable groups.
well-disposed
4 (adjective)
Definition
conforming to conventions of sexual behaviour
The book's protagonist is portrayed as respectable and decent.
Synonyms
respectable
He came from a respectable middle-class family.
nice
The kids are very well brought up and have nice manners.
pure
pure and chaste thoughts
proper
modest
She always wore modest clothing.
polite
chaste
chaste thoughts
presentable
His score had reached a presentable total.
decorous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acceptable
Definition
good enough
There was one restaurant that looked acceptable.
Synonyms
satisfactory,
fair,
all right,
suitable,
sufficient,
moderate,
good enough,
standard,
adequate,
so-so (informal),
tolerable,
up to scratch (informal),
passable,
up to the mark
in the sense of accommodating
Definition
willing to help
Not every friend is so accommodating.
Synonyms
obliging,
willing,
kind,
friendly,
helpful,
polite,
cooperative,
agreeable,
amiable,
courteous,
considerate,
hospitable,
unselfish,
eager to please,
complaisant
in the sense of adequate
Definition
just enough in amount or just good enough in quality