B2adjective2K

Decent

UK /["/ˈdiːsnt/"]/US /["/ˈdiːsnt/"]/

Definition

of a good enough standard or quality

In simple words: Good enough; acceptable.

Examples

  • She has a decent understanding of the topic.
  • The restaurant offers decent food at reasonable prices.
  • He earned a decent salary working at the company.
  • It's important to have decent manners in social situations.
  • The movie was decent, but I expected more from it.

Usage notes

Use 'decent' when describing something that meets basic standards but isn't exceptional. It's suitable for most contexts but may sound too casual in very formal situations.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'decent' like a 'decent meal' – it's not gourmet, but it's satisfactory.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • really
  • very
  • perfectly
  • to
  • be
  • very
  • really
  • perfectly
  • do the decent thing
  • be
  • look
  • really
  • very
  • perfectly
  • to

Synonyms

  • acceptable
  • reasonable
  • satisfactory
  • adequate
  • passable

Antonyms

  • poor
  • subpar
  • inferior

Common mistakes

  • Using 'decent' to mean 'excellent' instead of 'acceptable'.
  • Confusing it with 'descent' or 'recent'.