moderate
B2formal, neutral, academic
Definition
Meaning
avoiding extremes; being average or within reasonable limits.
To make or become less extreme, intense, or severe; a person holding moderate views, especially in politics.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries a positive connotation of reasonableness and restraint when describing a person or policy. As a verb, it implies a controlling or tempering influence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a political label, 'moderate' is more commonly used in US politics to describe centrists. The verb form is slightly more frequent in formal British English.
Connotations
Generally similar positive connotations of reasonableness. In UK politics, it can specifically refer to a faction within the Conservative Party.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties, with comparable usage across registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
moderate something (vt)moderate (vi)moderate between A and Bbe moderate in somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in moderation”
- “the moderate middle”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to steady, not spectacular growth or risk (e.g., 'moderate gains').
Academic
Describing a measured viewpoint or a statistical median (e.g., 'a moderate correlation').
Everyday
Describing weather, speed, or consumption (e.g., 'moderate temperatures', 'drink in moderation').
Technical
In medicine: describing symptom severity; in meteorology: describing wind or seas.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She was asked to moderate the debate between the candidates.
- The wind is expected to moderate by tonight.
American English
- He moderates the comments section on the website.
- We need to moderate our spending this quarter.
adverb
British English
- The room was only moderately crowded.
- He performed moderately well in the exams.
American English
- The film was moderately successful at the box office.
- She felt moderately confident about the interview.
adjective
British English
- We are experiencing moderate growth this quarter.
- He is known for his quite moderate political views.
American English
- The hike is of moderate difficulty.
- She prefers a moderate climate without extremes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The weather is moderate today.
- Please eat sweets in moderation.
- He has a moderate opinion on the issue.
- The pain was only moderate.
- The committee chose a moderate candidate to bridge the divide.
- Economists predict a period of moderate inflation.
- The diplomat sought to moderate the hostile negotiations.
- His ostensibly moderate stance belied a more radical agenda.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MODERn thermometer showing an AVERAGE temperature - not too hot, not too cold, just MODERATE.
Conceptual Metaphor
BALANCE IS MODERATION (e.g., 'strike a balance', 'the middle path').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'modern' (современный). 'Moderate' is 'умеренный'. The verb 'to moderate' is often 'смягчать', 'умерять', or 'вести (дискуссию)'.
- The political term 'moderate' does not directly correlate with a single Russian party label.
- In phrases like 'moderate success', it means 'небольшой' or 'относительный', not 'средний' in a statistical sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'moderate' as a synonym for 'normal' (it implies conscious avoidance of extremes).
- Pronouncing the verb and adjective forms identically (they differ in stress/vowel).
- Overusing in place of more specific adjectives like 'adequate', 'sufficient', or 'fair'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'moderate' used as a VERB?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is predominantly positive, suggesting reasonableness and avoidance of extremes. However, in some contexts (e.g., 'moderate success'), it can imply something is not as good as it could be.
'Average' is a statistical or neutral descriptor of the mean. 'Moderate' implies a conscious or desirable avoidance of extremes and often carries a qualitative judgement of appropriateness.
The adjective/noun has primary stress on the first syllable: MOD-er-et. The verb has primary stress on the first syllable and a full vowel in the last syllable: MOD-er-ate.
Yes, commonly in politics to describe a person with centrist views, e.g., 'The bill was supported by moderates from both parties.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Debate Vocabulary
B2 · 48 words · Language for constructing arguments and discussions.