it looks adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it looks adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when assessing something's quality or suitability, indicating that it meets the minimum requirements or expectations. Example: "After reviewing the proposal, I can say that it looks adequate for our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sorry Motherboard, it looks adequate at best.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And the company's capital position looks adequate with more than £3bn economic capital surplus.

The Guardian - Business

As observational article it looks perfectly adequate to the journal purpose.

F1000Research

Bear's capital levels, remember, looked adequate just before it capsized.How will investment banks make up for the lower returns that come with less borrowing?

The Economist

Neither actor was at all certain about performing the scene, being terrified, according to Russell, that one or the other's sexual equipment would not look adequate.

The Guardian

What part of "the Obama plan just doesn't look adequate to the economy's need" is so hard to understand?

The New York Times

Gardner, Larsson and Vaughan look adequate replacements and the United pair O'Shea and Brown can do as well as Phil Neville has at Everton.

Independent

One could think that clinicians under-report their proportion of referrals for imaging that is most unlikely to affect treatment, to make their referral practice look adequate and justified.

Insights into Imaging

The dynamic range of 12-bits looks adequate for imaging of most objects surfaces.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Partial truths must not appear to be adequate in court, Ms. Moore said, adding, "As a public statement, of what lawyers were all about, it looked bad".

The New York Times

Under the influence of a "tough-minded" ideology committed to behaviorism, it seemed easier to look for adequate theories of action or will, as well as theories of belief or knowledge, than to construct adequate theories of emotion.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it looks adequate" when you want to express a moderate level of satisfaction or acceptance without implying excellence. This phrase is useful in contexts where meeting basic requirements is sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "it looks adequate" when you need to convey strong approval or enthusiasm. This phrase suggests something is just 'good enough' and might not be appropriate when higher praise is warranted. Choose more affirmative language when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it looks adequate" primarily functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a subjective assessment of something's sufficiency or acceptability. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English for indicating that something meets minimum requirements.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it looks adequate" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something meets basic requirements or standards without necessarily being outstanding. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this expression in written English. It finds use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. While suitable for expressing moderate satisfaction, it's important to avoid overstating when stronger affirmation is needed. Alternative phrases like "it appears sufficient" or "it seems satisfactory" can offer similar nuances depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears sufficient

Emphasizes the fulfillment of a requirement or need.

it looks sufficient

Highlights that the amount or degree is enough.

it seems satisfactory

Indicates a level of acceptance that meets expectations.

it appears acceptable

Suggests a basic level of approval or agreement.

it looks passable

Implies that something barely meets the minimum standard.

it looks appropriate

Implies suitability for a particular purpose or situation.

it seems suitable

Indicates that something fits well with requirements.

it seems reasonable

Indicates logical or justifiable characteristics.

it looks fine

A more casual expression indicating that something is acceptable.

it seems decent

Suggests an acceptable, though perhaps not outstanding, quality.

FAQs

What does "it looks adequate" mean?

The phrase "it looks adequate" means that something appears to be sufficient or acceptable, though perhaps not outstanding. It suggests a moderate level of satisfaction.

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

Use "it looks adequate" when you want to convey that something meets the minimum requirements or expectations. It's suitable in contexts where basic functionality or quality is sufficient.

What can I say instead of "it looks adequate"?

You can use alternatives like "it appears sufficient", "it seems satisfactory", or "it appears acceptable" depending on the context.

Is "it looks adequate" a formal or informal expression?

"It looks adequate" is generally considered a neutral expression that can be used in both formal and informal settings, although it might be more common in professional or technical contexts.