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

Not every change that came with this expansion was for the worse; as the cast grew up and some of the original kids could no longer use cuteness to conceal middling talent, Stranger Things added more skilled performers, like Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke. —Judy Berman, Time, 26 Dec. 2025

After two middling seasons, former head coach Jim Mora promoted Sammis to offensive coordinator in 2024 and helped turn the program around, as UConn won nine games in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Dec. 2025

Noun

This middle-aged — and middling — actor originally came to Tokyo to star in a big toothpaste commercial. —Jocelyn Noveck, Boston Herald, 21 Nov. 2025

There were lines around the block for the most middling of apartments; people were raising their own rents to try to get an edge over other applicants. —Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025

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