middling

1 of 2

adjective

mid·​dling ˈmid-liŋ 

-lən

1

: of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality

2

: mediocre, second-rate

a middling performance

The food was fair to middling. [=not especially good]

3

: of, relating to, or being a middle class

middling adverb

middlingly

ˈmid-liŋ-lē 

-lən-

adverb

middling

2 of 2

noun

1

: any of various commodities of intermediate size, quality, or position

2

middlings plural in form but singular or plural in construction : a granular product of grain milling

especially : a wheat milling by-product used in animal feeds

Synonyms of middling

Adjective

• average
• median

Examples of middling in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Rogen’s character Joe is a bitter former musician who teaches at a middling conservatory. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026

The pop satire, released in 2001 to middling reception, has since enjoyed an afterlife as a Technicolor cult classic, with lead actresses Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, and Tara Reid still embracing the film all these years later. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 June 2026

Noun

After playing host to the middling to subpar Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers hit the road to play the Buffalo Bills and then the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 15 May 2026

Start in the backfield, where Jack Westover did a middling to poor job as a tight end turned fullback last season. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing middling

• fair to middling

Kids Definition

middling

1 of 2 adjective

mid·​dling ˈmid-liŋ 

-lən

: of medium size, degree, or quality

middling adverb

middling

2 of 2 noun

1

: any of various products of medium quality or size

2

plural : a product produced by milling grain

especially : a product of wheat milling that is used in animal feeds