1
: of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality
2
3
: of, relating to, or being a middle class
middling
adverb
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
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
Barry Levitt, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
During a woeful three-inning outing, the 26-year-old gave up six runs to the middling Colorado Rockies.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2025
Some cite Chicago’s league-worst record and St. Louis’ middling play for the disinterest, but Wachtel said the teams still drew the highest average ticket price in the history of the contest and performed well in merchandise and concessions.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for middling
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Adjective
Actor Tim Blake Nelson, who wrote, directed, and stars in Leaves of Grass, deserved better than its middling reviews and dreadful box-office performance.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
During a woeful three-inning outing, the 26-year-old gave up six runs to the middling Colorado Rockies.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Paying middling free agents at positions that already have respectable starters and flexibility for draft maneuvering is a fool’s errand in some respects.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2025
Some cite Chicago’s league-worst record and St. Louis’ middling play for the disinterest, but Wachtel said the teams still drew the highest average ticket price in the history of the contest and performed well in merchandise and concessions.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for middling
Cite this Entry
“Middling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middling. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
middling
1 of 2 adjective
mid·dling
ˈmid-liŋ 
-lən
: of medium size, degree, or quality
middling
adverb
middling
2 of 2 noun1
: 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
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