(~er, ~est, ~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Something or someone that is ~ is reasonable, right, and just.
It didn’t seem ~ to leave out her father...
Do you feel they’re paying their ~ share?...
Independent observers say the campaign’s been very much ~er than expected...
An appeals court had ruled that they could not get a ~ trial in Los Angeles.
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf
~ly
...demonstrating concern for employees and solving their problems quickly and ~ly...
In a society where water was precious, it had to be shared ~ly between individuals.
ADV: usu ADV after v, also ADV -ed
2.
A ~ amount, degree, size, or distance is quite a large amount, degree, size, or distance.
My neighbours across the street travel a ~ amount...
My mother’s brother lives a ~ distance away so we don’t see him and his family very often.
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
A ~ guess or idea about something is one that is likely to be correct.
It’s a ~ guess to say that the damage will be extensive...
I have a ~ idea of how difficult things can be.
= reasonable
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
If you describe someone or something as ~, you mean that they are average in standard or quality, neither very good nor very bad.
Reimar had a ~ command of English.
= adequate
ADJ
5.
Someone who is ~, or who has ~ hair, has light-coloured hair.
Both children were very like Robina, but were much ~er than she was.
ADJ
•
Fair is also a combining form.
...a tall, ~-haired Englishman.
COMB in ADJ
6.
Fair skin is very pale and usually burns easily.
It’s important to protect my ~ skin from the sun.
ADJ
•
Fair is also a combining form.
Fair-skinned people who spend a great deal of time in the sun have the greatest risk of skin cancer.
COMB in ADJ
7.
When the weather is ~, it is quite sunny and not raining. (FORMAL)
Weather conditions were ~.
= fine
ADJ
8.
A county, state, or country ~ is an event where there are, for example, displays of goods and animals, and amusements, games, and competitions.
N-COUNT: usu n N
9.
A ~ is an event at which people display and sell goods, especially goods of a particular type.
...an antiques ~.
N-COUNT: oft n N
see also craft ~ , trade ~
10.
You use ~ enough when you want to say that a statement, decision, or action seems reasonable to a certain extent, but that perhaps there is more to be said or done. (mainly SPOKEN)
If you don’t like it, ~ enough, but that’s hardly a justification to attack the whole thing...
PHRASE: PHR with cl
11.
If you say that someone plays ~, you mean that they behave or act in a reasonable and honest way.
The government is not playing ~, one union official told me.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
If you say that someone won a competition ~ and square, you mean that they won honestly and without cheating.
There are no excuses. We were beaten ~ and square.
PHRASE: PHR after v