Adequate Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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adequate

[หˆรฆdษชkwษ™t ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity

Synonyms

acceptable, satisfactory, sufficient.

Examples of usage

  • I don't think your response was adequate to the situation.
  • We need to find a more adequate solution to this problem.
Context #2 | Adjective

measurement

equal to or more than a specific amount or level

Synonyms

appropriate, enough, sufficient.

Examples of usage

  • Make sure you have an adequate amount of supplies for the trip.
  • She didn't have adequate time to prepare for the presentation.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • In psychology, the concept of adequacy is often tied to self-efficacy, where feeling adequate is linked to better performance.
  • An adequate level of self-esteem can lead to better decision-making and emotional resilience.

Education

  • In educational settings, adequate resources and support systems are critical for student success.
  • Teachers often strive to ensure that teaching methods and materials are adequate for diverse learners.

Culture

  • The idea of adequacy influences cultural norms, where different societies may define what is considered 'adequate' differently.
  • In some cultures, being adequate is valued over perfection, focusing on balance and functionality.

Business

  • In a business context, adequate performance might be seen as meeting minimum benchmarks without exceeding expectations.
  • Evaluating employee performance often involves looking at whether they provide adequate results to fulfill their roles.

Origin of 'adequate'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin word 'adequatus', which means 'equal to' or 'sufficient'.
  • It entered the English language in the early 19th century, showing that people started to care more about meeting specific standards.

The word 'adequate' originated from the Latin word 'adฤ“quฤtus', past participle of 'adฤ“quฤre', which means 'make equal to'. It was first used in the 1610s in English. Over time, 'adequate' has evolved to represent something that is satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity.


Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,442, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.