adj · adv · noun · 9 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
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmɪdlɪŋ/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmɪdl̩ɪŋ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈmɪd(ə)lɪŋ/
CMU ARPABET:M IH1 D AH0 L IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:M IH1 D L IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of intermediate or average size, position, or quality; mediocre.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The football team is never the worst or best in its league; its position is always middling.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: average, medium, unexceptional, comme ci comme ça, crappy, decent, indifferent, lackluster, meh, mediocre, mid, middling, no great shakes, nothing to write home about, not worth writing home about, OK, okayish, ordinary, pedestrian, uninspiring, shitty, so-so, tolerable, whatever
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
In fairly good health.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, colloquial, regional
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
Fairly, moderately, somewhat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, colloquial, regional
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
Not too badly, with modest success.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, colloquial, regional
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Something of intermediate or average size, position, or quality.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Something of intermediate or average size, position, or quality.
Preceded by the: people of moderate means; members of the middle class.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: in-plural
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
lacking exceptional quality or ability
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a novel of average merit
only a fair performance of the sonata
in fair health
the caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
