Middling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈmid-liŋ/ mid·dling

Meaning & Definition of Middling

Middling (adjective)

  1. of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality
  2. mediocre, second-rate
  3. of, relating to, or being a middle class

Middling (noun)

  1. any of various commodities of intermediate size, quality, or position
  2. a granular product of grain milling; especially, a wheat milling by-product used in animal feeds

Middling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being about midway between extremes of amount or size

    "tired of the city but not particularly interested in small-town life, he moved to a suburb of middling size"

    similar: average, intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, midsize, moderate, modest
    related: reasonable, common, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual, adequate, passable, tolerable
    near: excessive, extreme, exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private

  2. of average to below average quality

    "was disappointed in the renowned historian's latest book, which is only middling"

    similar: common, fair, indifferent, mediocre, medium, ordinary, passable, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-class, second-rate, so-so
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, alright, decent, OK, reasonable, satisfactory, sufficient, sufficing, tolerable, moderate, modest, presentable, respectable, minimal, unexceptional, fine, good, nice
    near: A1, capital, choice, classic, distinguished, excellent, exceptional, exquisite, fabulous, fantastic, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, matchless, maximum, nifty, number one, optimal, optimum, outstanding, par excellence, peerless, preeminent, prime, sensational, special, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supreme, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unmatched, unparalleled, unsurpassed, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Middling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Middling:

average, intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, midsize, moderate, modest, common, fair, indifferent, mediocre, ordinary, passable, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-class, second-rate, so-so

Related Words for Middling

reasonable, commonplace, conventional, normal, popular, regular, routine, standard, typical, usual, adequate, tolerable, acceptable, all right, alright, decent, OK, satisfactory, sufficient, sufficing, presentable, respectable, minimal, unexceptional, fine, good, nice

Near Antonyms of Middling

excessive, extreme, exceptional, rare, strange, uncommon, unusual, distinctive, idiosyncratic, special, unique, individual, peculiar, private, A1, capital, choice, classic, distinguished, excellent, exquisite, fabulous, fantastic, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, matchless, maximum

Word Forms of Middling

Derived words: middling (adverb), middlingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Middling

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Middling

fair to middling

Frequently Asked Questions about Middling

What does "Middling" mean?

"Middling" means of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Middling"?

Other words for "Middling" include average, intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, midsize and moderate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Middling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Middling"?

There are 47 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Middling". Common alternatives include average, intermediate, mean, median, medium, middle, midsize, moderate, modest and common.

How do you use "Middling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Middling" in a sentence: "tired of the city but not particularly interested in small-town life, he moved to a suburb of middling size"; "was disappointed in the renowned historian's latest book, which is only middling".

Is "Middling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Middling" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Middling"?

"Middling" is pronounced /ˈmid-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as mid·dling.

What is the origin of the word "Middling"?

First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Middling" meaning "being about midway between extremes of amount or size"?

When "Middling" (adjective) means being about midway between extremes of amount or size, synonyms include average, intermediate, mean, median, medium and middle.