fairly
adverb
fair·ly ˈfer-lē 
1
: in a handsome manner
a table fairly set
2
obsolete
a
: in a gentle manner : quietly
b
: in a courteous manner
3
: so to speak : nearly, practically
fairly bursting with pride
4
a
: in a proper or legal manner
fairly priced stocks
b
: without bias or distortion : impartially
a story told fairly and objectively
5
: to a full degree or extent : plainly, distinctly
had fairly caught sight of him
6
: rather sense 5, moderately
a fairly easy job
Synonyms
- enough
- kindly [chiefly Southern]
- kind of
- like
- moderately
- more or less
- pretty
- quite
- rather
- relatively
- something
- somewhat
- sort of
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
It's a fairly common disease. I told the story as fairly as possible. He reports fairly on the issues. He beat me fairly and squarely.
Recent Examples on the Web Most people age 50 and older who got their second booster shot did so fairly quickly after federal authorities gave the green light at the end of March. 
Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Young said school districts need to make more efforts to clarify school policies with staff and ensure they are being consistently and fairly enforced. Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 31 Aug. 2022 Gillers added that, fairly or unfairly, prosecuting a former President requires meeting a higher legal and political threshold. David Rohde, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 Judicial review by the Tax court is an important protection for whistleblowers to ensure that they’ve been treated fairly and in compliance with the law. Dean Zerbe, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 The Senate must ensure that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under the law. WSJ, 25 July 2022 The poll found that just 34 percent of voters were very or somewhat confident that major newspapers and television networks reported accurately and fairly about news and politics. New York Times, 13 July 2022 Just half describe it as fairly or very good, down from 60% a year ago. Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 26 June 2022 Today marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a federal law that was passed on June 23, 1972 to ensure that male and female students and employees in educational settings are treated equally and fairly. Lauren Sisler | Lsisler@al.com, al, 23 June 2022 See More
Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 Young said school districts need to make more efforts to clarify school policies with staff and ensure they are being consistently and fairly enforced. Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 31 Aug. 2022 Gillers added that, fairly or unfairly, prosecuting a former President requires meeting a higher legal and political threshold. David Rohde, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2022 Judicial review by the Tax court is an important protection for whistleblowers to ensure that they’ve been treated fairly and in compliance with the law. Dean Zerbe, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 The Senate must ensure that all Americans are treated fairly and equally under the law. WSJ, 25 July 2022 The poll found that just 34 percent of voters were very or somewhat confident that major newspapers and television networks reported accurately and fairly about news and politics. New York Times, 13 July 2022 Just half describe it as fairly or very good, down from 60% a year ago. Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 26 June 2022 Today marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a federal law that was passed on June 23, 1972 to ensure that male and female students and employees in educational settings are treated equally and fairly. Lauren Sisler | Lsisler@al.com, al, 23 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
fairly
adverb
fair·ly ˈfer-lē
1
: in a just and proper manner
I was treated fairly.
2
: very close to
He was fairly bursting with pride.
3
: for the most part : rather
It's a fairly easy job.
fairly
adverb
1
as in pretty
to some degree or extent for someone without professional training, she sings fairly well Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pretty
- relatively
- quite
- rather
- somewhat
- something
- enough
- moderately
- like
- a little
- a bit
- a tad
- kind of
- a mite
- sort of
- to a degree
- a touch
- of sorts
- slightly
- decently
- after a sort
- tolerably
- kindly
- acceptably
- passably
- vaguely
- of a sort
- little
- nominally
- negligibly
- partially
- part
- partly
- more or less
- halfway
- incompletely
- half
- partway
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- very
- extremely
- exceedingly
- exceptionally
- awfully
- particularly
- highly
- terribly
- especially
- heavily
- exceeding
- greatly
- frightfully
- mortally
- mightily
- deadly
- substantially
- surpassingly
- hugely
- significantly
- considerably
- extensively
- beastly
2
as in legally
according to the rules or the law had acquired the land fairly Synonyms & Similar Words
- legally
- cleanly
- fair
- ethically
- clean
- morally
- honorably
- nobly
- high-mindedly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dirty
- illegally
- unethically
- underhandedly
- immorally
- dishonorably
- ignobly
3
as in almost
very close to but not completely he fairly knocked me flat on my face as he ran by Synonyms & Similar Words
- almost
- practically
- nearly
- virtually
- most
- about
- pretty much
- somewhere
- just about
- mostly
- fair
- borderline
- next to
- somewhat
- largely
- all but
- near
- much
- as good as
- nigh
- mainly
- well-nigh
- feckly
- chiefly
- partially
- within an inch of
- more or less
- appreciably
- partly
- kind of
- by and large
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quite
- completely
- entirely
- fully
- thoroughly
- absolutely
- well
- wholly
- totally
- utterly
- altogether
- plain
- plumb
- hardly
- barely
- scarcely
