Standard Lemma guide

decently

adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈdiːsəntli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IY1 S AH0 N T L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a decent manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You need to be decently attired to enter the restaurant.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: correctly, modestly, right-mindedly, becomingly, chastely, continently, decently, decorously, deservingly, dutifully, duteously, meritoriously, morally, nobly, rightly, righteously, virtuously, worthily

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

To a reasonable or acceptable degree.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a decently high salary

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in the right manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • please do your job properly!
  • can't you carry me decent?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: properly, decent, in good order, right, the right way

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

in a decent manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they don't know how to dress decently

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: indecently

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English decent Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English decently From decent + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: decentment — in a decent manner
  • Finnish: sopivasti — in a decent manner
  • Finnish: kunnolla — in a decent manner
  • Finnish: kunnollisesti — in a decent manner
  • Ancient Greek: εὐπρεπῶς (euprepôs) — in a decent manner
  • Latin: decenter — in a decent manner
  • Russian: прили́чно (prilíčno) — in a decent manner