decent

/'di:snt/

Thân thiện

A decent meal should include a balanced plate of vegetables, protein, and grains.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Conforming to accepted standards of morality or respectability: "decent" describes behavior, speech, or appearance that is socially proper, modest, and appropriate.
   • Adequate or satisfactory: "decent" can mean acceptable in quality or quantity, good enough without being excellent.
   • Kind or obliging: In informal use, "decent" describes a person who is fair, reasonable, or generous.

2. Adverb:

   • In a proper or suitable manner: The adverbial form "decent" (or more commonly "decently") means to do something correctly or appropriately.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • She wore a decent dress to the formal dinner. (Her dress was appropriate and modest.)
  • He earns a decent salary. (His salary is adequate or reasonably good.)
  • It was very decent of you to help. (It was kind and obliging of you to help.)

• Adverb:

  • Please behave decently at the event. (Please act in a proper manner.)

Advanced Usage

• "Are you decent?": A common idiomatic question used before entering a room, asking if the person is dressed and presentable.

  • He knocked on the door and asked, "Are you decent?" before entering.

• "A decent interval": Refers to a polite or appropriate amount of time between events, often used in social or formal contexts.

  • After the funeral, they waited a decent interval before discussing the will.

Variants and Related Words

• Decently (adverb): In a proper, adequate, or acceptable manner.
  • The team performed decently in the tournament.
• Decency (noun): The quality of being decent; conformity to standards of propriety and morality.
  • He acted with great decency and respect.

Synonyms

• Proper: Correct according to social or formal rules.
• Adequate: Sufficient or acceptable in quality.
• Respectable: Regarded by society as being correct, good, or proper.
• Modest: Unassuming in behavior or appearance.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Decent" is primarily an adjective/adverb and does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The related phrases are idiomatic expressions.)

Related Idioms

• Do the decent thing: To act in a morally right or honorable way.
  • When he found the lost wallet, he did the decent thing and returned it.
• A decent sort: An informal way to describe a good, respectable person.
  • You can trust him; he's a decent sort.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. observing conventional sexual mores in speech or behavior or dress
   • a modest neckline in her dress
   • though one of her shoulder straps had slipped down, she was perfectly decent by current standards
2. decently clothed
   • are you decent?
3. sufficient for the purpose
   • an adequate income
   • the food was adequate
   • a decent wage
   • enough food
   • food enough
4. conforming to conventions of sexual behavior
   • speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd- George Santayana
5. according with custom or propriety
   • her becoming modesty
   • comely behavior
   • it is not comme il faut for a gentleman to be constantly asking for money
   • a decent burial
   • seemly behavior
6. socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
   • from a decent family
   • a nice girl

Adverb

1. in the right manner
   • please do your job properly!
   • can't you carry me decent?

Từ đồng nghĩa

• adequate
• enough
• becoming
• comely
• comme il faut
• decorous
• seemly
• nice
• properly
• decently
• in good order
• right
• the right way