moderate

1 of 2

adjective

mod·​er·​ate ˈmä-d(ə-)rət 

1

a

: avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits

a moderate drinker

His doctor recommended moderate exercise.

b

: calm, temperate

Though very much in favor of the measure, he expressed himself in moderate language.

2

a

: tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension

a family of moderate income

b

: having average or less than average quality : mediocre

… wrote moderate poetry to the end of his life …

—Carl Van Doren

3

: not violent, severe, or intense

a moderate climate

moderate winters

cook over moderate heat

4

: professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme

had left-wing, moderate, and right-wing candidates vying for the nomination

5

: limited in scope or effect

His new wealth had only a moderate effect on his way of life.

6

: not expensive : reasonable or low in price

a moderate price for a new house

7

of a color : of medium lightness and medium chroma

a moderate red

moderateness noun

moderateness

2 of 2

noun

mod·​er·​ate·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being moderate

Synonyms of moderate

Adjective

• temperate
• restrained
• typical

Examples of moderate in a Sentence

Adjective

Her doctor recommended moderate exercise.

There were moderate levels of chemicals in the lake.

drinking moderate amounts of coffee

Most of these medicines relieve mild to moderate pain.

a family of moderate income

a book of moderate length

The group met with only moderate success.

a writer of moderate talent

The hotel offers comfortable rooms at moderate prices.

Both moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans can agree on this new law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Hudson has offered a more moderate approach, saying the Senate should reform the process into a talking filibuster to allow Republicans to push the SAVE Act. —Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2026

In summer, make sure the blades are set to spin counter-clockwise to create a downdraft, and operate the fan at a moderate speed, rather than at the highest setting. —Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 6 June 2026

In April, the moderate Democrat was languishing in the single digits in several polls. —Terry Collins, USA Today, 6 June 2026

This tells us there’s plenty of unrealized upside with BTX as rates eventually moderate. —Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin moderatus, from past participle of moderare to moderate; akin to Latin modus measure

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing moderate

• moderate breeze
• moderate gale

Rhymes for moderate

• immoderate

Kids Definition

moderate

1 of 3 adjective

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-(ə-)rət 

1

a

: avoiding or lacking extremes (as in behavior or temperature)

a moderate eater

moderate climates

b

: calm entry 3 sense 2, reasonable

moderate demands

2

a

: neither very much nor very little : average in size or amount

a moderate rain

b

: neither very good nor very bad

met with only moderate success

3

: opposed to major social change or extreme political ideas

a moderate candidate

4

: not expensive : reasonable or low in price

moderate rates

moderately adverb

moderateness noun

moderate

2 of 3 verb

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt 

moderated; moderating

1

: to make or become less violent, severe, or intense

2

: to guide a discussion or act as chairperson of a meeting

moderate

3 of 3 noun

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-(ə-)rət 

: one who holds moderate views or belongs to a moderate group (as in politics)

Medical Definition

moderate

1 of 2 adjective

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-(ə-)rət 

1

: avoiding extremes of behavior : observing reasonable limits

a moderate drinker

2

: not severe in effect or degree

moderate alcohol consumption

the abdomen was mildly distended with moderate tenderness

—Timothy Melester et al.

moderate developmental disabilities

moderate

2 of 2 transitive verb

mod·​er·​ate ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt 

moderated; moderating

: to reduce the speed or energy of (neutrons)

moderation

ˌmäd-ə-ˈrā-shən 

noun