Fairly means to quite a large degree. For example, if you say that something is fairly old, you mean that it is old but not very old.
Both ships are fairly new.
We did fairly well but only fairly well.
Synonyms: moderately, rather, quite, somewhat More Synonyms of fairly
2. adverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb]
You use fairly instead of 'very' to add emphasis to an adjective or adverb without making it sound too forceful.
[vagueness]
Were you always fairly bright at school?
You've got to be fairly single-minded about it.
I'll have no income and no home and will need a job fairly badly.
3. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
Fairly is used to emphasize that something happens to a very great degree or extent.
[emphasis]
He fairly flew across the room.
For him, the place is fairly boiling with humanity.
Synonyms: positively, really, simply, absolutely More Synonyms of fairly
4. graded adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use fairly to suggest that a statement is probably or possibly true, and therefore deserves to be accepted or considered.
It can no doubt be fairly argued that Sir John, whose pay is linked to performance,is entitled to every penny.
After I had read the book I could fairly claim to be an expert.
Synonyms: deservedly, objectively, honestly, justifiably More Synonyms of fairly
5. See also fair
usage note: Fairly, pretty, quite, and rather can all be used to modify adjectives and adverbs, but are all less strong than very. Rather and pretty are the strongest of these words and are the closest to very. Pretty, in this sense, is informal. Therefore, if you said to someone, 'Your work is pretty good' or 'Your work is rather good', they would be more likely to be pleased than if you said 'Your work is quite good'or 'Your work is fairly good'. However, rather is commonly used with words indicating negative qualities. I was feeling rather sad. It is the only one of these words than can be used with comparatives, and with too. Global warming could be rather worse than we think it will be... He was becoming rathertoo friendly with my ex-boyfriend.Quite is slightly stronger than fairly, and may suggest that something has more of a quality than expected. Nobody here's ever heard of it but it is actually quite common.
fairly in British English
(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
fairly in American English
(ˈfɛrli)
adverb
1.
justly; equitably
2.
moderately; somewhat
fairly hot
3.
clearly; distinctly
4.
virtually; in effect
he fairly flew across the room
5. Obsolete
a.
softly
b.
courteously
Word origin
ME: see fair1 & -ly2
Examples of 'fairly' in a sentence
fairly
That was one reason to be fairly relaxed about household debt.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I urge you to think about this fairly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Investors are fairly relaxed about the politics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can be fairly sure the interest you pay will not rise for at least three years.
The Sun (2013)
The game show aspect is fairly simple.
Christianity Today (2000)
My relationship with cooking has always been fairly stressful.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This game is good for a group who know each other fairly well.
Aiken, Nick Working with Teenagers (1994)
My friend discovered fairly quickly that she was almost the only woman there who worked.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We are thinking of three nights at each place and are fairly limited by cost.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Paying these fairly high monthly premiums is obviously exceptionally difficult if you are in debt.
Tondeur, Keith Say Goodbye to Debt (1994)
The idea that we can plan our lives is fairly new and very western.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But we are fairly sure they all knew each other.
The Sun (2012)
But actually it is the fairly simple matter of their forward play.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
My lyrics have always been fairly straightforward.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So she took hold of his arm and managed to get along fairly well.
L. Frank Baum The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
It did for the first week but it fairly quickly dried up.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The vehicle had overturned in a fairly exposed place.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
It is fairly new technology that is not yet proven.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The effects of this attitude to coupling and marriage were that relationship could be claimed on a fairly wide basis.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
He can fairly claim that the government is pursuing the best policies to take the country through the current economic turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He fairly flew across the room.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
It is about doing so fairly.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
IF you do not want to pay waiting staff fairly in your restaurant then you should not be in business.
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
fairly
British English: fairly /ˈfɛəlɪ/ ADVERB
Fairly means to quite a large degree.
Were you always fairly clever at school?
American English: fairly
Arabic: بإِنْصَاف
Brazilian Portuguese: razoavelmente
Chinese: 相当
Croatian: prilično
Czech: docela
Danish: ret
Dutch: behoorlijk
European Spanish: bastante
Finnish: melko
French: assez
German: ziemlich
Greek: αρκετά
Italian: abbastanza
Japanese: 公正に
Korean: 상당히
Norwegian: rettferdig
Polish: dość
European Portuguese: razoavelmente
Romanian: destul de
Russian: в достаточной степени
Latin American Spanish: con imparcialidad
Swedish: ganska
Thai: พอควร
Turkish: oldukça
Ukrainian: досить
Vietnamese: khá
Chinese translation of 'fairly'
fairly
(ˈfɛəlɪ)
adv
(= justly)[share, distribute]公平地 (gōngpíng de)
(= quite)[heavy, fast, good]相当(當) (xiāngdāng)
1 (adverb)
Definition
as deserved
They solved their problems quickly and fairly.
Synonyms
equitably
objectively
Try to view the situation more objectively.
legitimately
honestly
charged with failing to act honestly in his duties as an officer
justly
lawfully
without prejudice
dispassionately
impartially
even-handedly
without bias
2 (adverb)
Definition
to a moderate degree or extent
We did fairly well.
Synonyms
moderately
The machine operated moderately well.
rather
I'm afraid it's rather a long story.
quite
I was doing quite well, but I wasn't earning a lot of money.
somewhat
He concluded that Oswald was somewhat abnormal.
reasonably
adequately
pretty well
tolerably
passably
She's always done passably well in school.
3 (adverb)
Definition
to a great degree or extent
He fairly flew across the room.
Synonyms
positively
He was positively furious.
really
I really do feel that some people are being unfair.
simply
He's simply wonderful in every respect.
absolutely
She is absolutely right.
in a manner of speaking
veritably
4 (adverb)
It can no doubt be fairly argued that he is entitled to every penny.
Synonyms
deservedly
He deservedly won the Player of the Year award.
objectively
honestly
justifiably
justly
They promised to deal with her justly.
impartially
equitably
without fear or favour
properly
The debate needs to be conducted properly.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absolutely
Definition
completely or perfectly
She is absolutely right.
Synonyms
completely,
totally,
perfectly,
quite,
fully,
entirely,
purely,
altogether,
thoroughly,
wholly,
utterly,
consummately,
every inch,
to the hilt,
a hundred per cent,
one hundred per cent,
unmitigatedly,
lock, stock and barrel
in the sense of honestly
Definition
in an honest manner
charged with failing to act honestly in his duties as an officer