rhizoverbBeta
DictionarymiddlingAverage grade
adjective / noun / adverb

middling

MID-ling/ˈmɪdlɪŋ/

At an ordinary intermediate level.

The central bowl's middling craftsmanship falls between the misshapen and finely finished examples.

A serviceable but unremarkable handmade bowl is emphasized in a compact comparison of poor, average, and excellent craftsmanship.
Etymology
middlOld Englishmiddle, intermediate
+ingMiddle Englishforming participles and adjectives

The middle idea became a judgment of quality: middling designated the second of three grades of goods. From that intermediate rank came “only average, neither good nor bad.”

In context

CNBC3:52
In 2009, the US showed middling performance in reading and science and scored below average in mathematics, compared to the average score among OECD countries.
How Common Core Broke U.S. Schools

More examples

  • Her first attempt earns a middling score.
  • I'm doing middling well, but I still tire easily.
  • The report lists the cotton's grade as middling.

Forms

middling

middle adjective — Between two extremes or outer limits.

Similar words

average
Suggests a typical level, without necessarily implying disappointing quality.
mediocre
More clearly criticizes quality as unimpressive or below expectations.
moderate
Emphasizes limited degree or intensity rather than ordinary quality.