adjective
adequate
AD-ih-kwut/ˈædɪkwət/
Sufficient to meet a need or serve a purpose.
The modest umbrella is adequate for the light shower.
Etymology
The underlying image is making something equal to a standard. Something adequate is equal to what a need or purpose requires: sufficient to meet it, without necessarily exceeding it.
In context
my stapler is not going to be adequate enough to staple through a long, you know, I I probably need almost like half inch staples and my gun is not going to do that.
More examples
- The room has adequate ventilation.
- Her explanation was adequate for the task.
- They set aside adequate time.
Forms
adequate
Similar words
- sufficient
- Sufficient directly means enough.
- satisfactory
- Satisfactory emphasizes meeting expectations.