absolutely adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is completely sufficient or satisfactory for a particular purpose. Example: "The resources provided for the project were absolutely adequate to meet our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"What we as the Bulgarian team of architects and Foster and Partners are doing is absolutely adequate to the legislation and the laws of this country," he said, adding that the construction would be sympathetic to its surroundings.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"But I'm absolutely confident that funding levels are perfectly adequate for continuing into the next month".

The New York Times

Absolutely gorgeous!

Harvard University

The last thing you want is to look back with regret and think, "man…I retired a little too early," especially when it comes to making absolutely sure you have adequate health care coverage.

Forbes

I was running every day, and I absolutely had to get adequate sleep at night.

Huffington Post

Though a strong referral base is absolutely essential to ensure adequate program reach, the development of such referral bases needs to be the responsibility of the program administration rather than HEP staff.

Clinical interventions in aging

Yes, absolutely, I think it was adequate.

The New York Times

He's not merely adequate; he's absolutely wonderful.

The New York Times

Most citrullinated arginine-rich proteins are adequate but not absolutely equivalent reagents for the detection of antibodies against citrullinated epitopes, as discussed in [ 22].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

"You absolutely, positively must have enough insurance to rebuild your home," she said, noting that while that might seem rather obvious, many homeowners do not have adequate coverage.

The New York Times

This 'physiological nociceptive pain' is a warning sensation and absolutely essential for survival because it triggers adequate avoidance reactions.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely adequate" when you want to strongly emphasize that something is not just sufficient, but completely and undeniably so. It's best used when addressing concerns or dispelling doubts about adequacy.

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely adequate" in casual conversation or informal writing where a simpler term like "adequate" or "sufficient" would suffice. The emphatic nature of "absolutely adequate" can sound overly formal or even stilted in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely adequate" functions as an intensified adjective phrase. "Absolutely" serves as an adverb intensifying the adjective "adequate", indicating a high degree of sufficiency. This reinforces the notion that something not only meets requirements but does so completely, confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absolutely adequate" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, used to emphasize that something is completely sufficient or satisfactory. While Ludwig identifies it as uncommon, it appears across diverse contexts like news, academia, and science, generally maintaining a neutral to professional register. To ensure clarity and avoid sounding overly formal, consider the context before employing this emphatic phrase. Alternatives such as "perfectly adequate" or "entirely sufficient" can provide similar meaning with slightly altered emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perfectly adequate

Replaces "absolutely" with "perfectly", slightly softening the emphasis while retaining the core meaning of sufficiency.

entirely sufficient

Substitutes both words, offering a more formal tone that emphasizes completeness of provision.

completely satisfactory

Replaces "adequate" with a term that highlights the fulfillment of expectations or requirements.

fully sufficient

Similar to "entirely sufficient", but with a slightly less formal tone, stressing that all requirements are met.

wholly adequate

Uses "wholly" to emphasize that something is entirely and completely adequate.

amply sufficient

Indicates there is more than enough to meet the requirements, adding a sense of abundance.

thoroughly adequate

Emphasizes that something is adequate in every respect, leaving no room for deficiency.

unquestionably adequate

Highlights that the adequacy is beyond doubt or dispute.

without a doubt adequate

Phrases the certainty of adequacy in a more verbose way, emphasizing the lack of uncertainty.

more than adequate

Indicates that something not only meets the requirements but exceeds them.

FAQs

What does "absolutely adequate" mean?

The phrase "absolutely adequate" means something is completely and undeniably sufficient or satisfactory. It is used to emphasize that something not only meets the requirements but does so without any question.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "absolutely adequate"?

It's appropriate to use "absolutely adequate" when you want to strongly emphasize the sufficiency of something, especially when there might be doubts or concerns about whether it meets the necessary requirements.

What are some alternative ways to say "absolutely adequate"?

Some alternatives include "perfectly adequate", "entirely sufficient", or "completely satisfactory" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "absolutely adequate" a formal or informal expression?

"Absolutely adequate" is generally considered a more formal expression due to the use of "absolutely" as an intensifier. In more casual settings, "adequate" or "sufficient" might be more appropriate.