Moderate Meaning
/ˈmɒdəɹət/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNot excessive; acting in moderation
adjmore than mild, less than severe
Sentence Examples
Don't go to extremes. To be moderate is important in anything.
The weather in Florida is generally moderate.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher tried to ____ the heated debate by asking everyone to speak calmly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor advised the patient that ____ exercise, such as walking for thirty minutes a day, would significantly improve his health.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English moderat(e) (“moderate, temperate”), borrowed from Latin moderātus, perfect active participle of moderor (“to regulate, to restrain, to moderate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from moder-, modes-, a stem appearing also in modestus (“moderate, discreet, modest”), from modus (“a measure”); see mode and modest. Doublet of moderato. Displaced native Old English ġemetlīċ (“moderate”) and metegian (“to moderate”). Cognate with French modéré.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A number of moderate members managed […] to obtain a majority in a thin house."
— 1731, Jonathan Swift, The Presbyterians Plea of Merit:
"These are called the Islands of the Blest; rains fall there seldom, and in moderate showers, but for the most part they have gentle breezes, bringing along with them soft dews"
— 1859, Arthur Hugh Clough, Life of Sertorius:
"On the other side, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch (a moderate) has to contend with the hardliners on his executive, whose intentions go way beyond trying to sort out their members' terms and conditions."
— 2022 June 29, Christian Wolmar, “Strike settlement held back by ministers”, in RAIL, number 960, page 43:
"By its astringent Quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm Water."
— 1731, John Arbuthnot, An Essay Concerning the Nature of Aliments, and the Choice of Them, According to the Different Constitutions of Human Bodies. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC:
"This leaves two strategies to increase the current in a positron beam. First is to provide a stronger positron source and second is to develop a more efficient method to moderate the source positrons into a monoenergetic beam."
— 2000, Paul G. Coleman, Positron Beams and Their Applications, page 309:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher tried to ____ the heated debate by asking everyone to speak calmly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The doctor advised the patient that ____ exercise, such as walking for thirty minutes a day, would significantly improve his health.