Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a decent or becoming manner; with propriety of behavior or speech; with modesty.
  • Tolerably; passably; fairly.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a decent manner; .

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a decent manner
  • adverb in the right manner

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word decently.

Examples

  • “You expect that every manpays you the least attentionor treats youremotely decently is going to be your Prince Charming.”

    2008 June « Becca’s Byline 2008

  • “You expect that every manpays you the least attentionor treats youremotely decently is going to be your Prince Charming.”

    Sunday Scribblings – Happy Endings 2008

  • “You expect that every man pays you the least attention or treats you remotely decently is going to be your Prince Charming.”

    Sunday Scribblings – Happy Endings 2008

  • Our responsibility to behave fairly and decently is something we owe to other people, not to government.

    Archive 2008-01-01 Not a sheep 2008

  • Another positive note is that the new 'Southern', whose trains run through on the other platform, have invested in decently-designed signs and an evocative logo.

    Railway Echo No.3 Peter Ashley 2007

  • Another positive note is that the new 'Southern', whose trains run through on the other platform, have invested in decently-designed signs and an evocative logo.

    Archive 2007-09-01 Peter Ashley 2007

  • It also turns out that the Target employees hate their jobs and can't be bothered to shelve any of the swimwear decently, which is to say, at all.

    of bikinis, and other demons 2007

  • Now if he marries — decently, that is — some woman you know that can assist him in the world, let him have what he wants.

    Doctor Thorne 2004

  • Our change in values is not driven by indifference to crude radio shows, but the need to work longer and harder to live decently, which is rich in most of the world.

    Archive 2004-03-01 2004

  • And yet in euery of the these passions being as it were vndecencies, there is a comelinesse to be discerned, which some men can keepe and some men can not, as to be angry, or to enuy, or to hate, or to pitie, or to be ashamed decently, that is none otherwise then reason requireth.

    The Arte of English Poesie George Puttenham

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.