Definition of decent in English:

decent

adjective ˈdiːs(ə)ntˈdis(ə)nt

1Conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behaviour.
正派的
a decent clean-living individual
安分守己的正派人。
Example sentencesExamples
- Ninety nine percent of Heysham High pupils are decent, respectful, hardworking and a credit to their parents.
- But there used to be limits that decent men and women respected.
- I am impressed with the other family though, who kept their cool in the face of such childish behaviour and showed what decent people they were.
- We could help to maintain decent moral standards in advertising, by using our own purchasing power ethically.
- We have a lot of nice, decent people who come here to drink, and will have nowhere else to go if it is shut.
- Since then thousands of youngsters have learned good manners, decent behaviour and mutual respect, all through the seemingly anachronistic art of ballroom dancing.
- Both these people have talent but far more than that they come across as nice, decent, genuine young people.
- He said it had once been a decent community, a nice place to live, but it had gone downhill in the last five years.
- If some leader was prepared to argue the decent moral position, people would follow.
- Society has allowed a lowering of standards and eroded the rules of decent, thoughtful behaviour.
- It's insulting to my morals as a decent human being to have to watch people degrade themselves on television and use sly tactics in order to win money.
- I talk to a nice, decent guy who understands my frustration but can't do jack about it.
- We should be here in the House to establish decent standards of behaviour in our society.
- Then the question that arises is what sort of political institutions and practices are appropriate in a decent society.
- I suppose it's harmless and they're all decent, nice people, but we don't have much in common.
- But this is Australia and most people are fair, decent and respect difference.
- The majority of people who live on that north Peckham estate are decent, peaceful and moral.
- In Anne's case, the overriding impression was that of a dignified and decent woman struggling hard to cope with the pain of ending a marriage which just hadn't worked out.
- Don't get me wrong, I work with nice, decent people.
- There is no place for it in a decent and moral society.
Synonyms
respectable, upright, upstanding, honourable, honest, on the level, right-minded, law-abiding
1. 1.1 Appropriate; fitting.
  合宜的，适当的
  they would meet again after a decent interval
  他们在适当的间隔之后会再见面。
  Example sentencesExamples
  After a decent interval has passed, we'll hear what they're going to do.
  After a decent interval, Prince George married his late brother's fiancée, Princess May, and they were a far more suitable couple than she and Eddy would have been.
  Willingness to consider foreign judicial views in comparable cases is not surprising in a Nation that from its birth has given a decent respect to the opinions of mankind.
  After a decent interval of days, the identity of the new Prime Minister was no surprise.
  After a decent interval he and Madeleine left Carew to his liqueurs and cynicism and headed back across the square to the Hotel Adernis.
  In that case, the decision, after some hesitation, was to cancel sporting events for a decent interval.
  No one's come up with a brilliant new scheme (and publishers have to wait a decent interval before repackaging the old ones).
  There isn't a decent interval of time during which one must hold on to a present out of respect to the giver, although the introduction of such a tradition would save a lot of heartache.
  We must hope that when we all come to look back, after a decent interval, we shall not regret our lack of interest.
  After a decent interval, a period of dating and familiarisation, and ultimately marriage and homemaking, the first children were born.
  For our grand finale, ordered after a decent interval, there was only ever going to be one choice for me, the dark treacle custard tart with rum soaked raisins.
  Then came the main courses - served after a decent interval to allow some digesting and conversation to take place before studious consumption resumed.
  The mildest critics argued that they were premature and that a decent interval should have been allowed before the struggle to analyse and understand began.
  After a decent interval, laughter became acceptable as a means of relieving the tension.
  One source told Hersh that ‘after a decent interval,’ he would depart.
  I chatted for a decent interval, then picked up my book, smiled, and wished them a pleasant vacation.
  Though Adams was a doubter on many aspects of Christianity, he nonetheless had a decent respect for it.
  So, after a decent interval occupied by morning chores, off we went into the sunshine.
  These orders were invariably cancelled, after a decent interval, due to the whims of our fictitious clients.
  Some 19 months later, time enough for five or six decent intervals, Tenet still holds the job and appears to have job security, too.
  Synonyms
  proper, correct, appropriate, apt, apposite, fitting, fit, befitting, right, suitable, respectable, dignified, becoming, decorous, seemly, modest, nice, tasteful, in good taste, refined, genteel
  conventional, accepted, approved, standard, traditional, orthodox
  French comme il faut
  informal pukka
2. 1.2 Not likely to shock or embarrass others.
  得体的，恰当的
  a decent high-necked dress
  得体的高领女装。
  Example sentencesExamples
  By the time she was dressed and looking somewhat decent, she had only three minutes until Aidan was due to arrive.
  Others find her propensity for tacky glamour and ostentatious lack of decent clothing a little too much to bear.
  And for heaven's sake people, put some decent clothes on your daughter.
  She got out of bed and changed into a decent dress of woolspun.
  I also wondered why a manufacturer would make an otherwise decent dress too sheer so everyone can have a perve at your undies if you wear it.
  She made for a decent picture dressed in simple dark brown cashmere, and her hair placed in a simple bun at the nape of her neck.
  Besides, I also don't want to see your hairy chest… wear some decent clothes.
  Coincidentally, she had on very decent clothes as well, I think it was a buttoned up cardigan with jeans.
  From the sounds downstairs, my mother was trying to recover from last night's hangover and put on a decent dress for her daughters' weddings.
  He also made the request that people who attended should attend in decent dress, as per a golf course.
3. 1.3informal Sufficiently clothed to see visitors.
  〈非正式〉穿好了衣服的，穿戴停当的
  ‘Hello, miss? Are you decent?’
  “喂，小姐，你穿戴停当了吗？”
  Example sentencesExamples
  ‘Lyn are you there?’ Andrea said knocking. ‘Are you decent?’
  Now go get yourself decent, I'll call a cab
  "Yeah, well I'm glad one person is half decent here besides myself.
  Over the weekend I tend to wander around in my pyjamas, contact lenses not yet inserted, until after breakfast, before attempting to dress and get decent.
2attributive Of an acceptable standard; satisfactory.
过得去的，合意的，舒适的，满意的
people need decent homes
人们需要体面的家。
Example sentencesExamples
- Quite how authentically Tunisian the snake charmers, contortionists and belly dancers were I don't know, but it was a good laugh and the meal was decent enough.
- A decent crowd of 1,526 witnessed something of a shock result, but really the game was as one-sided as anything seen at Cougar Park this season.
- Try as I would, I couldn't seem to make a decent cup of tea, and it even looked odd - a dismal grey instead of a healthy brown.
- The defense has been respectable and the pitching decent.
- Without a decent road network and fitting sewerage system, Livingstone is bound to not only lose out on increased numbers of tourists but also job creation.
- We don't have a preference for any particular part of town, just a nice B&B with decent Tube access.
- Don't get me wrong I'm not a habititual complainer, but I expect to be given a decent service and politeness, not much to ask is it?
- Those of us who depend on a decent public transport service are entitled to ask Mr Hughes for a list of those bus routes he intends to chop if he is elected.
- Leeds Council has been working successfully for a number of years with many responsible landlords who provide decent accommodation.
- Naples suffers from a dearth of decent affordable accommodation.
- A respected international footballer speaking decent Spanish and enjoying life in Madrid should shut up both the snobs and the Europhobes.
- We want clean, quiet hospital wards with appropriate privacy and decent food.
- The eight English clubs with the most money should really compete for the European places if they have a half decent manager and appropriate board level backing.
- They use cheap materials and actually destroy a lot of decent furniture and fittings in the process - if something is considered unfashionable it gets taken out or painted over.
- Anthony Fedorov has a decent voice, but he's more likely to make it through on sympathy votes.
- Many women are angry that the system fails to give them a decent income and it is an issue that is likely to affect their votes on polling day.
- They were both pretty ordinary, lived normal lives, made satisfactory grades and were decent looking.
- As always I struck up a conversation with the barista, commenting it had been three days since I'd had a decent cup of coffee.
- The truth is, most lawyers in Canada make a decent, modest living.
- The text is a decent size; leading satisfactory; and it's longish - nearly 400 pages - but not too long.
Synonyms
satisfactory, reasonable, fair, acceptable, adequate, sufficient, sufficiently good, good enough, ample, up to scratch, up to the mark, up to standard, up to par, competent, not bad, all right, average, tolerable, passable, suitable
informal OK, okay, up to snuff
1. 2.1 Good.
  好的，出色的
  there's a few decent players in the team
  队里有一些好选手。
  Example sentencesExamples
  It's satisfying to get two decent, sustaining main meals for two hungry blokes out of one medium sized chicken.
  Results are decent, the players are happy again, the club is doing well.
  If you put all of those young players into the team at the same time, without some really decent players alongside them, you will lose.
  It's fair to say that a few decent shops would be nice and many areas of the town could do with a facelift, but that does not mean we live in misery and squalor.
  Now I am not going to complain if they do put more stuff out of this nature but I think that there is quite a lot already - maybe I would like at least one programme a night but some decent drama would be nice as well.
  She is offering to get me the Vegas Video 4.0 upgrade for my services, and that means decent colour correction tools, which I'd kill for.
  It's as good a day as I've had in football, and I was lucky enough to have some decent days as a player.
  Somehow, the York players transformed themselves into what we all know they have the potential to be - decent rugby players.
  A person who loves watching movies can never be alone when they have a decent VHS or DVD player.
  In this vein, as well as the fact that this recipe is Ligurian in its history, it seemed only appropriate to post a decent pesto recipe.
  What you have here is nice folks running a decent restaurant with unique food.
  It's been a disappointing season for us so far, so to have a decent run in the Cup is massive for us, and massive for the fans as well.
  Apart from being a decent player, he's also a nice lad and is the skipper this year.
  A decent game of football was never likely as both teams struggled to adapt to the atrocious conditions.
  Because they have only a handful of decent players, trades have been hard to come by - you can't get something for nothing.
  ‘They are playing really well and they have some decent young players, so they are a hard team to play against,’ conceded Paul.
  If you think for a minute that I don't want a nice house, a decent car, gadgets and remote controls, then you've really got the wrong idea.
  Cash also plays its part in managerial success, but the £5m that Moyes has been given to spend represents no more than a down payment on a decent Premiership player.
  It was followed by a decent Caesar salad, with a tangy dressing that was appropriately not too creamy after the pot of cheese we'd just consumed.
  So, if you live not too far away, make sure it is on your list of places to visit next time you want to sit down to a decent meal and a nice glass of wine without breaking the bank.
2. 2.2British informal Kind, obliging, or generous.
  〈英，非正式〉和蔼有礼的，慷慨的
  that's awfully decent of you
  你真是太好了。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Brett has been Mr House Husband today, cooking dinner and now doing the washing up, which is very decent of him as I'm feeling a bit rough for some reason.
  He was a grand decent neighbour, reliable and dependable, and one of the fine ‘old stock’ of the parish.
  Tommie was regarded among all who knew him as a very decent and obliging man.
  ‘David was the best husband you could wish for; he was loving, dependable and considerate, a very decent man,’ she said.
  So let no-one say British people aren't decent, aren't generous.
  He's a decent bloke, kind, generous and gentle to a fault.
  It was decent of him to apologize to you.
  I told her everything and she listened, which I thought was pretty decent of a total stranger who looked sober.
  I enjoy Paul's company and judge him to be decent and generous-hearted.
  If you stick around and look underneath the make-up you just may find a very decent and worthy human being.
  John and Rich were very decent though, agreeing to sleep on the lounge floor.
  Frank has always been approachable, a very honest, decent, generous man, with a great sense of humour too.
  We may disagree on much, but he's a thoughtful, decent man.
  Lots of Tories hold a strange affection to the ageing leftie, and when I read the last volume of his diaries he came across as a very decent, generous fellow.
  Synonyms
  honourable, honest, trustworthy, dependable, worthy, respectable, upright, clean-living, incorrupt, virtuous, good, ethical, moral
  obliging, helpful, accommodating, indulgent, unselfish, altruistic, generous, kind, kindly, thoughtful, considerate, courteous, civil, polite, well mannered, neighbourly, hospitable, pleasant, agreeable, amiable
  informal squeaky clean
  dated mannerly
  rare regardful

Phrases

do the decent thing

Take the most honourable or appropriate course of action, even if is not necessarily in one's own interests.
做有体面的事
after his defeat he should do the decent thing and step down
在被击败之后，他应该不失体面地下台。
Example sentencesExamples
- Everyone makes mistakes and when they do, responsible media outlets do the decent thing and retract, apologise and pay damages if necessary.
- You should do the decent thing and resign with immediate effect.
- Politicians, on the other hand, are not generally known or recognised for doing the decent thing, most especially in the campaign leading up to a general election.
- It is high time that all concerned get off their horse and do the decent thing in the interest of the people.
- Joanna gets pregnant and Steve does the decent thing; he marries her.

Origin

Mid 16th century (in the sense 'suitable, appropriate'): from Latin decent- 'being fitting', from the verb decere.

Rhymes

recent

Definition of decent in US English:

decent

adjectiveˈdis(ə)ntˈdēs(ə)nt

1Conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior.
正派的
the good name of such a decent and innocent person
Example sentencesExamples
- I suppose it's harmless and they're all decent, nice people, but we don't have much in common.
- If some leader was prepared to argue the decent moral position, people would follow.
- Then the question that arises is what sort of political institutions and practices are appropriate in a decent society.
- Both these people have talent but far more than that they come across as nice, decent, genuine young people.
- He said it had once been a decent community, a nice place to live, but it had gone downhill in the last five years.
- Society has allowed a lowering of standards and eroded the rules of decent, thoughtful behaviour.
- Since then thousands of youngsters have learned good manners, decent behaviour and mutual respect, all through the seemingly anachronistic art of ballroom dancing.
- Don't get me wrong, I work with nice, decent people.
- We should be here in the House to establish decent standards of behaviour in our society.
- Ninety nine percent of Heysham High pupils are decent, respectful, hardworking and a credit to their parents.
- It's insulting to my morals as a decent human being to have to watch people degrade themselves on television and use sly tactics in order to win money.
- We have a lot of nice, decent people who come here to drink, and will have nowhere else to go if it is shut.
- But this is Australia and most people are fair, decent and respect difference.
- The majority of people who live on that north Peckham estate are decent, peaceful and moral.
- I talk to a nice, decent guy who understands my frustration but can't do jack about it.
- But there used to be limits that decent men and women respected.
- We could help to maintain decent moral standards in advertising, by using our own purchasing power ethically.
- I am impressed with the other family though, who kept their cool in the face of such childish behaviour and showed what decent people they were.
- There is no place for it in a decent and moral society.
- In Anne's case, the overriding impression was that of a dignified and decent woman struggling hard to cope with the pain of ending a marriage which just hadn't worked out.
Synonyms
respectable, upright, upstanding, honourable, honest, on the level, right-minded, law-abiding
1. 1.1 Appropriate; fitting.
  合宜的，适当的
  they would meet again after a decent interval
  他们在适当的间隔之后会再见面。
  Example sentencesExamples
  After a decent interval, a period of dating and familiarisation, and ultimately marriage and homemaking, the first children were born.
  After a decent interval of days, the identity of the new Prime Minister was no surprise.
  The mildest critics argued that they were premature and that a decent interval should have been allowed before the struggle to analyse and understand began.
  No one's come up with a brilliant new scheme (and publishers have to wait a decent interval before repackaging the old ones).
  Though Adams was a doubter on many aspects of Christianity, he nonetheless had a decent respect for it.
  I chatted for a decent interval, then picked up my book, smiled, and wished them a pleasant vacation.
  After a decent interval, laughter became acceptable as a means of relieving the tension.
  In that case, the decision, after some hesitation, was to cancel sporting events for a decent interval.
  After a decent interval he and Madeleine left Carew to his liqueurs and cynicism and headed back across the square to the Hotel Adernis.
  There isn't a decent interval of time during which one must hold on to a present out of respect to the giver, although the introduction of such a tradition would save a lot of heartache.
  Some 19 months later, time enough for five or six decent intervals, Tenet still holds the job and appears to have job security, too.
  So, after a decent interval occupied by morning chores, off we went into the sunshine.
  Then came the main courses - served after a decent interval to allow some digesting and conversation to take place before studious consumption resumed.
  After a decent interval, Prince George married his late brother's fiancée, Princess May, and they were a far more suitable couple than she and Eddy would have been.
  After a decent interval has passed, we'll hear what they're going to do.
  We must hope that when we all come to look back, after a decent interval, we shall not regret our lack of interest.
  Willingness to consider foreign judicial views in comparable cases is not surprising in a Nation that from its birth has given a decent respect to the opinions of mankind.
  One source told Hersh that ‘after a decent interval,’ he would depart.
  These orders were invariably cancelled, after a decent interval, due to the whims of our fictitious clients.
  For our grand finale, ordered after a decent interval, there was only ever going to be one choice for me, the dark treacle custard tart with rum soaked raisins.
  Synonyms
  proper, correct, appropriate, apt, apposite, fitting, fit, befitting, right, suitable, respectable, dignified, becoming, decorous, seemly, modest, nice, tasteful, in good taste, refined, genteel
2. 1.2 Not likely to shock or embarrass others.
  得体的，恰当的
  a decent high-necked dress
  得体的高领女装。
  Example sentencesExamples
  And for heaven's sake people, put some decent clothes on your daughter.
  I also wondered why a manufacturer would make an otherwise decent dress too sheer so everyone can have a perve at your undies if you wear it.
  He also made the request that people who attended should attend in decent dress, as per a golf course.
  By the time she was dressed and looking somewhat decent, she had only three minutes until Aidan was due to arrive.
  From the sounds downstairs, my mother was trying to recover from last night's hangover and put on a decent dress for her daughters' weddings.
  She made for a decent picture dressed in simple dark brown cashmere, and her hair placed in a simple bun at the nape of her neck.
  She got out of bed and changed into a decent dress of woolspun.
  Others find her propensity for tacky glamour and ostentatious lack of decent clothing a little too much to bear.
  Coincidentally, she had on very decent clothes as well, I think it was a buttoned up cardigan with jeans.
  Besides, I also don't want to see your hairy chest… wear some decent clothes.
3. 1.3informal Sufficiently clothed to see visitors.
  〈非正式〉穿好了衣服的，穿戴停当的
  make yourself decent
  Example sentencesExamples
  Over the weekend I tend to wander around in my pyjamas, contact lenses not yet inserted, until after breakfast, before attempting to dress and get decent.
  "Yeah, well I'm glad one person is half decent here besides myself.
  Now go get yourself decent, I'll call a cab
  ‘Lyn are you there?’ Andrea said knocking. ‘Are you decent?’
2attributive Of an acceptable standard; satisfactory.
过得去的，合意的，舒适的，满意的
people need decent homes
人们需要体面的家。
find me a decent cup of coffee
给我一杯好咖啡。
Example sentencesExamples
- A respected international footballer speaking decent Spanish and enjoying life in Madrid should shut up both the snobs and the Europhobes.
- Naples suffers from a dearth of decent affordable accommodation.
- We don't have a preference for any particular part of town, just a nice B&B with decent Tube access.
- The eight English clubs with the most money should really compete for the European places if they have a half decent manager and appropriate board level backing.
- Try as I would, I couldn't seem to make a decent cup of tea, and it even looked odd - a dismal grey instead of a healthy brown.
- We want clean, quiet hospital wards with appropriate privacy and decent food.
- Those of us who depend on a decent public transport service are entitled to ask Mr Hughes for a list of those bus routes he intends to chop if he is elected.
- The defense has been respectable and the pitching decent.
- Leeds Council has been working successfully for a number of years with many responsible landlords who provide decent accommodation.
- Quite how authentically Tunisian the snake charmers, contortionists and belly dancers were I don't know, but it was a good laugh and the meal was decent enough.
- Many women are angry that the system fails to give them a decent income and it is an issue that is likely to affect their votes on polling day.
- As always I struck up a conversation with the barista, commenting it had been three days since I'd had a decent cup of coffee.
- The text is a decent size; leading satisfactory; and it's longish - nearly 400 pages - but not too long.
- The truth is, most lawyers in Canada make a decent, modest living.
- They were both pretty ordinary, lived normal lives, made satisfactory grades and were decent looking.
- Don't get me wrong I'm not a habititual complainer, but I expect to be given a decent service and politeness, not much to ask is it?
- They use cheap materials and actually destroy a lot of decent furniture and fittings in the process - if something is considered unfashionable it gets taken out or painted over.
- A decent crowd of 1,526 witnessed something of a shock result, but really the game was as one-sided as anything seen at Cougar Park this season.
- Anthony Fedorov has a decent voice, but he's more likely to make it through on sympathy votes.
- Without a decent road network and fitting sewerage system, Livingstone is bound to not only lose out on increased numbers of tourists but also job creation.
Synonyms
satisfactory, reasonable, fair, acceptable, adequate, sufficient, sufficiently good, good enough, ample, up to scratch, up to the mark, up to standard, up to par, competent, not bad, all right, average, tolerable, passable, suitable
1. 2.1 Good.
  好的，出色的
  the deer are small: a 14-inch spread is a pretty decent buck
  Example sentencesExamples
  It's as good a day as I've had in football, and I was lucky enough to have some decent days as a player.
  What you have here is nice folks running a decent restaurant with unique food.
  So, if you live not too far away, make sure it is on your list of places to visit next time you want to sit down to a decent meal and a nice glass of wine without breaking the bank.
  Results are decent, the players are happy again, the club is doing well.
  She is offering to get me the Vegas Video 4.0 upgrade for my services, and that means decent colour correction tools, which I'd kill for.
  It's fair to say that a few decent shops would be nice and many areas of the town could do with a facelift, but that does not mean we live in misery and squalor.
  If you put all of those young players into the team at the same time, without some really decent players alongside them, you will lose.
  A person who loves watching movies can never be alone when they have a decent VHS or DVD player.
  Now I am not going to complain if they do put more stuff out of this nature but I think that there is quite a lot already - maybe I would like at least one programme a night but some decent drama would be nice as well.
  Apart from being a decent player, he's also a nice lad and is the skipper this year.
  A decent game of football was never likely as both teams struggled to adapt to the atrocious conditions.
  It was followed by a decent Caesar salad, with a tangy dressing that was appropriately not too creamy after the pot of cheese we'd just consumed.
  ‘They are playing really well and they have some decent young players, so they are a hard team to play against,’ conceded Paul.
  Somehow, the York players transformed themselves into what we all know they have the potential to be - decent rugby players.
  Because they have only a handful of decent players, trades have been hard to come by - you can't get something for nothing.
  It's satisfying to get two decent, sustaining main meals for two hungry blokes out of one medium sized chicken.
  In this vein, as well as the fact that this recipe is Ligurian in its history, it seemed only appropriate to post a decent pesto recipe.
  Cash also plays its part in managerial success, but the £5m that Moyes has been given to spend represents no more than a down payment on a decent Premiership player.
  If you think for a minute that I don't want a nice house, a decent car, gadgets and remote controls, then you've really got the wrong idea.
  It's been a disappointing season for us so far, so to have a decent run in the Cup is massive for us, and massive for the fans as well.
2. 2.2British informal Kind, obliging, or generous.
  〈英，非正式〉和蔼有礼的，慷慨的
  that was pretty awfully decent of him
  你真是太好了。
  Example sentencesExamples
  He's a decent bloke, kind, generous and gentle to a fault.
  Frank has always been approachable, a very honest, decent, generous man, with a great sense of humour too.
  ‘David was the best husband you could wish for; he was loving, dependable and considerate, a very decent man,’ she said.
  Lots of Tories hold a strange affection to the ageing leftie, and when I read the last volume of his diaries he came across as a very decent, generous fellow.
  John and Rich were very decent though, agreeing to sleep on the lounge floor.
  Brett has been Mr House Husband today, cooking dinner and now doing the washing up, which is very decent of him as I'm feeling a bit rough for some reason.
  I enjoy Paul's company and judge him to be decent and generous-hearted.
  It was decent of him to apologize to you.
  I told her everything and she listened, which I thought was pretty decent of a total stranger who looked sober.
  We may disagree on much, but he's a thoughtful, decent man.
  So let no-one say British people aren't decent, aren't generous.
  If you stick around and look underneath the make-up you just may find a very decent and worthy human being.
  He was a grand decent neighbour, reliable and dependable, and one of the fine ‘old stock’ of the parish.
  Tommie was regarded among all who knew him as a very decent and obliging man.
  Synonyms
  honourable, honest, trustworthy, dependable, worthy, respectable, upright, clean-living, incorrupt, virtuous, good, ethical, moral

Phrases

do the decent thing

Take the most honorable or appropriate course of action, even if is not necessarily in one's own interests.
做有体面的事
after his defeat he should do the decent thing and step down
在被击败之后，他应该不失体面地下台。
Example sentencesExamples
- Everyone makes mistakes and when they do, responsible media outlets do the decent thing and retract, apologise and pay damages if necessary.
- You should do the decent thing and resign with immediate effect.
- It is high time that all concerned get off their horse and do the decent thing in the interest of the people.
- Joanna gets pregnant and Steve does the decent thing; he marries her.
- Politicians, on the other hand, are not generally known or recognised for doing the decent thing, most especially in the campaign leading up to a general election.

Origin

Mid 16th century (in the sense ‘suitable, appropriate’): from Latin decent- ‘being fitting’, from the verb decere.

词汇	decent
释义	Definition of decent in English: decent adjective ˈdiːs(ə)ntˈdis(ə)nt 1Conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behaviour. 正派的 a decent clean-living individual 安分守己的正派人。 Example sentencesExamples Ninety nine percent of Heysham High pupils are decent, respectful, hardworking and a credit to their parents. But there used to be limits that decent men and women respected. I am impressed with the other family though, who kept their cool in the face of such childish behaviour and showed what decent people they were. We could help to maintain decent moral standards in advertising, by using our own purchasing power ethically. We have a lot of nice, decent people who come here to drink, and will have nowhere else to go if it is shut. Since then thousands of youngsters have learned good manners, decent behaviour and mutual respect, all through the seemingly anachronistic art of ballroom dancing. Both these people have talent but far more than that they come across as nice, decent, genuine young people. He said it had once been a decent community, a nice place to live, but it had gone downhill in the last five years. If some leader was prepared to argue the decent moral position, people would follow. Society has allowed a lowering of standards and eroded the rules of decent, thoughtful behaviour. It's insulting to my morals as a decent human being to have to watch people degrade themselves on television and use sly tactics in order to win money. I talk to a nice, decent guy who understands my frustration but can't do jack about it. We should be here in the House to establish decent standards of behaviour in our society. Then the question that arises is what sort of political institutions and practices are appropriate in a decent society. I suppose it's harmless and they're all decent, nice people, but we don't have much in common. But this is Australia and most people are fair, decent and respect difference. The majority of people who live on that north Peckham estate are decent, peaceful and moral. In Anne's case, the overriding impression was that of a dignified and decent woman struggling hard to cope with the pain of ending a marriage which just hadn't worked out. Don't get me wrong, I work with nice, decent people. There is no place for it in a decent and moral society. Synonyms respectable, upright, upstanding, honourable, honest, on the level, right-minded, law-abiding 1.1 Appropriate; fitting. 合宜的，适当的 they would meet again after a decent interval 他们在适当的间隔之后会再见面。 Example sentencesExamples After a decent interval has passed, we'll hear what they're going to do. After a decent interval, Prince George married his late brother's fiancée, Princess May, and they were a far more suitable couple than she and Eddy would have been. Willingness to consider foreign judicial views in comparable cases is not surprising in a Nation that from its birth has given a decent respect to the opinions of mankind. After a decent interval of days, the identity of the new Prime Minister was no surprise. After a decent interval he and Madeleine left Carew to his liqueurs and cynicism and headed back across the square to the Hotel Adernis. In that case, the decision, after some hesitation, was to cancel sporting events for a decent interval. No one's come up with a brilliant new scheme (and publishers have to wait a decent interval before repackaging the old ones). There isn't a decent interval of time during which one must hold on to a present out of respect to the giver, although the introduction of such a tradition would save a lot of heartache. We must hope that when we all come to look back, after a decent interval, we shall not regret our lack of interest. After a decent interval, a period of dating and familiarisation, and ultimately marriage and homemaking, the first children were born. For our grand finale, ordered after a decent interval, there was only ever going to be one choice for me, the dark treacle custard tart with rum soaked raisins. Then came the main courses - served after a decent interval to allow some digesting and conversation to take place before studious consumption resumed. The mildest critics argued that they were premature and that a decent interval should have been allowed before the struggle to analyse and understand began. After a decent interval, laughter became acceptable as a means of relieving the tension. One source told Hersh that ‘after a decent interval,’ he would depart. I chatted for a decent interval, then picked up my book, smiled, and wished them a pleasant vacation. Though Adams was a doubter on many aspects of Christianity, he nonetheless had a decent respect for it. So, after a decent interval occupied by morning chores, off we went into the sunshine. These orders were invariably cancelled, after a decent interval, due to the whims of our fictitious clients. Some 19 months later, time enough for five or six decent intervals, Tenet still holds the job and appears to have job security, too. Synonyms proper, correct, appropriate, apt, apposite, fitting, fit, befitting, right, suitable, respectable, dignified, becoming, decorous, seemly, modest, nice, tasteful, in good taste, refined, genteel conventional, accepted, approved, standard, traditional, orthodox French comme il faut informal pukka 1.2 Not likely to shock or embarrass others. 得体的，恰当的 a decent high-necked dress 得体的高领女装。 Example sentencesExamples By the time she was dressed and looking somewhat decent, she had only three minutes until Aidan was due to arrive. Others find her propensity for tacky glamour and ostentatious lack of decent clothing a little too much to bear. And for heaven's sake people, put some decent clothes on your daughter. She got out of bed and changed into a decent dress of woolspun. I also wondered why a manufacturer would make an otherwise decent dress too sheer so everyone can have a perve at your undies if you wear it. She made for a decent picture dressed in simple dark brown cashmere, and her hair placed in a simple bun at the nape of her neck. Besides, I also don't want to see your hairy chest… wear some decent clothes. Coincidentally, she had on very decent clothes as well, I think it was a buttoned up cardigan with jeans. From the sounds downstairs, my mother was trying to recover from last night's hangover and put on a decent dress for her daughters' weddings. He also made the request that people who attended should attend in decent dress, as per a golf course. 1.3informal Sufficiently clothed to see visitors. 〈非正式〉穿好了衣服的，穿戴停当的 ‘Hello, miss? Are you decent?’ “喂，小姐，你穿戴停当了吗？” Example sentencesExamples ‘Lyn are you there?’ Andrea said knocking. ‘Are you decent?’ Now go get yourself decent, I'll call a cab "Yeah, well I'm glad one person is half decent here besides myself. Over the weekend I tend to wander around in my pyjamas, contact lenses not yet inserted, until after breakfast, before attempting to dress and get decent. 2attributive Of an acceptable standard; satisfactory. 过得去的，合意的，舒适的，满意的 people need decent homes 人们需要体面的家。 Example sentencesExamples Quite how authentically Tunisian the snake charmers, contortionists and belly dancers were I don't know, but it was a good laugh and the meal was decent enough. A decent crowd of 1,526 witnessed something of a shock result, but really the game was as one-sided as anything seen at Cougar Park this season. Try as I would, I couldn't seem to make a decent cup of tea, and it even looked odd - a dismal grey instead of a healthy brown. The defense has been respectable and the pitching decent. Without a decent road network and fitting sewerage system, Livingstone is bound to not only lose out on increased numbers of tourists but also job creation. We don't have a preference for any particular part of town, just a nice B&B with decent Tube access. Don't get me wrong I'm not a habititual complainer, but I expect to be given a decent service and politeness, not much to ask is it? Those of us who depend on a decent public transport service are entitled to ask Mr Hughes for a list of those bus routes he intends to chop if he is elected. Leeds Council has been working successfully for a number of years with many responsible landlords who provide decent accommodation. Naples suffers from a dearth of decent affordable accommodation. A respected international footballer speaking decent Spanish and enjoying life in Madrid should shut up both the snobs and the Europhobes. We want clean, quiet hospital wards with appropriate privacy and decent food. The eight English clubs with the most money should really compete for the European places if they have a half decent manager and appropriate board level backing. They use cheap materials and actually destroy a lot of decent furniture and fittings in the process - if something is considered unfashionable it gets taken out or painted over. Anthony Fedorov has a decent voice, but he's more likely to make it through on sympathy votes. Many women are angry that the system fails to give them a decent income and it is an issue that is likely to affect their votes on polling day. They were both pretty ordinary, lived normal lives, made satisfactory grades and were decent looking. As always I struck up a conversation with the barista, commenting it had been three days since I'd had a decent cup of coffee. The truth is, most lawyers in Canada make a decent, modest living. The text is a decent size; leading satisfactory; and it's longish - nearly 400 pages - but not too long. Synonyms satisfactory, reasonable, fair, acceptable, adequate, sufficient, sufficiently good, good enough, ample, up to scratch, up to the mark, up to standard, up to par, competent, not bad, all right, average, tolerable, passable, suitable informal OK, okay, up to snuff 2.1 Good. 好的，出色的 there's a few decent players in the team 队里有一些好选手。 Example sentencesExamples It's satisfying to get two decent, sustaining main meals for two hungry blokes out of one medium sized chicken. Results are decent, the players are happy again, the club is doing well. If you put all of those young players into the team at the same time, without some really decent players alongside them, you will lose. It's fair to say that a few decent shops would be nice and many areas of the town could do with a facelift, but that does not mean we live in misery and squalor. Now I am not going to complain if they do put more stuff out of this nature but I think that there is quite a lot already - maybe I would like at least one programme a night but some decent drama would be nice as well. She is offering to get me the Vegas Video 4.0 upgrade for my services, and that means decent colour correction tools, which I'd kill for. It's as good a day as I've had in football, and I was lucky enough to have some decent days as a player. Somehow, the York players transformed themselves into what we all know they have the potential to be - decent rugby players. A person who loves watching movies can never be alone when they have a decent VHS or DVD player. In this vein, as well as the fact that this recipe is Ligurian in its history, it seemed only appropriate to post a decent pesto recipe. What you have here is nice folks running a decent restaurant with unique food. It's been a disappointing season for us so far, so to have a decent run in the Cup is massive for us, and massive for the fans as well. Apart from being a decent player, he's also a nice lad and is the skipper this year. A decent game of football was never likely as both teams struggled to adapt to the atrocious conditions. Because they have only a handful of decent players, trades have been hard to come by - you can't get something for nothing. ‘They are playing really well and they have some decent young players, so they are a hard team to play against,’ conceded Paul. If you think for a minute that I don't want a nice house, a decent car, gadgets and remote controls, then you've really got the wrong idea. Cash also plays its part in managerial success, but the £5m that Moyes has been given to spend represents no more than a down payment on a decent Premiership player. It was followed by a decent Caesar salad, with a tangy dressing that was appropriately not too creamy after the pot of cheese we'd just consumed. So, if you live not too far away, make sure it is on your list of places to visit next time you want to sit down to a decent meal and a nice glass of wine without breaking the bank. 2.2British informal Kind, obliging, or generous. 〈英，非正式〉和蔼有礼的，慷慨的 that's awfully decent of you 你真是太好了。 Example sentencesExamples Brett has been Mr House Husband today, cooking dinner and now doing the washing up, which is very decent of him as I'm feeling a bit rough for some reason. He was a grand decent neighbour, reliable and dependable, and one of the fine ‘old stock’ of the parish. Tommie was regarded among all who knew him as a very decent and obliging man. ‘David was the best husband you could wish for; he was loving, dependable and considerate, a very decent man,’ she said. So let no-one say British people aren't decent, aren't generous. He's a decent bloke, kind, generous and gentle to a fault. It was decent of him to apologize to you. I told her everything and she listened, which I thought was pretty decent of a total stranger who looked sober. I enjoy Paul's company and judge him to be decent and generous-hearted. If you stick around and look underneath the make-up you just may find a very decent and worthy human being. John and Rich were very decent though, agreeing to sleep on the lounge floor. Frank has always been approachable, a very honest, decent, generous man, with a great sense of humour too. We may disagree on much, but he's a thoughtful, decent man. Lots of Tories hold a strange affection to the ageing leftie, and when I read the last volume of his diaries he came across as a very decent, generous fellow. Synonyms honourable, honest, trustworthy, dependable, worthy, respectable, upright, clean-living, incorrupt, virtuous, good, ethical, moral obliging, helpful, accommodating, indulgent, unselfish, altruistic, generous, kind, kindly, thoughtful, considerate, courteous, civil, polite, well mannered, neighbourly, hospitable, pleasant, agreeable, amiable informal squeaky clean dated mannerly rare regardful Phrases do the decent thing Take the most honourable or appropriate course of action, even if is not necessarily in one's own interests. 做有体面的事 after his defeat he should do the decent thing and step down 在被击败之后，他应该不失体面地下台。 Example sentencesExamples Everyone makes mistakes and when they do, responsible media outlets do the decent thing and retract, apologise and pay damages if necessary. You should do the decent thing and resign with immediate effect. Politicians, on the other hand, are not generally known or recognised for doing the decent thing, most especially in the campaign leading up to a general election. It is high time that all concerned get off their horse and do the decent thing in the interest of the people. Joanna gets pregnant and Steve does the decent thing; he marries her. Origin Mid 16th century (in the sense 'suitable, appropriate'): from Latin decent- 'being fitting', from the verb decere. Rhymes recent adj.1 phr. Definition of decent in US English: decent adjectiveˈdis(ə)ntˈdēs(ə)nt 1Conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior. 正派的 the good name of such a decent and innocent person Example sentencesExamples I suppose it's harmless and they're all decent, nice people, but we don't have much in common. If some leader was prepared to argue the decent moral position, people would follow. Then the question that arises is what sort of political institutions and practices are appropriate in a decent society. Both these people have talent but far more than that they come across as nice, decent, genuine young people. He said it had once been a decent community, a nice place to live, but it had gone downhill in the last five years. Society has allowed a lowering of standards and eroded the rules of decent, thoughtful behaviour. Since then thousands of youngsters have learned good manners, decent behaviour and mutual respect, all through the seemingly anachronistic art of ballroom dancing. Don't get me wrong, I work with nice, decent people. We should be here in the House to establish decent standards of behaviour in our society. Ninety nine percent of Heysham High pupils are decent, respectful, hardworking and a credit to their parents. It's insulting to my morals as a decent human being to have to watch people degrade themselves on television and use sly tactics in order to win money. We have a lot of nice, decent people who come here to drink, and will have nowhere else to go if it is shut. But this is Australia and most people are fair, decent and respect difference. The majority of people who live on that north Peckham estate are decent, peaceful and moral. I talk to a nice, decent guy who understands my frustration but can't do jack about it. But there used to be limits that decent men and women respected. We could help to maintain decent moral standards in advertising, by using our own purchasing power ethically. I am impressed with the other family though, who kept their cool in the face of such childish behaviour and showed what decent people they were. There is no place for it in a decent and moral society. In Anne's case, the overriding impression was that of a dignified and decent woman struggling hard to cope with the pain of ending a marriage which just hadn't worked out. Synonyms respectable, upright, upstanding, honourable, honest, on the level, right-minded, law-abiding 1.1 Appropriate; fitting. 合宜的，适当的 they would meet again after a decent interval 他们在适当的间隔之后会再见面。 Example sentencesExamples After a decent interval, a period of dating and familiarisation, and ultimately marriage and homemaking, the first children were born. After a decent interval of days, the identity of the new Prime Minister was no surprise. The mildest critics argued that they were premature and that a decent interval should have been allowed before the struggle to analyse and understand began. No one's come up with a brilliant new scheme (and publishers have to wait a decent interval before repackaging the old ones). Though Adams was a doubter on many aspects of Christianity, he nonetheless had a decent respect for it. I chatted for a decent interval, then picked up my book, smiled, and wished them a pleasant vacation. After a decent interval, laughter became acceptable as a means of relieving the tension. In that case, the decision, after some hesitation, was to cancel sporting events for a decent interval. After a decent interval he and Madeleine left Carew to his liqueurs and cynicism and headed back across the square to the Hotel Adernis. There isn't a decent interval of time during which one must hold on to a present out of respect to the giver, although the introduction of such a tradition would save a lot of heartache. Some 19 months later, time enough for five or six decent intervals, Tenet still holds the job and appears to have job security, too. So, after a decent interval occupied by morning chores, off we went into the sunshine. Then came the main courses - served after a decent interval to allow some digesting and conversation to take place before studious consumption resumed. After a decent interval, Prince George married his late brother's fiancée, Princess May, and they were a far more suitable couple than she and Eddy would have been. After a decent interval has passed, we'll hear what they're going to do. We must hope that when we all come to look back, after a decent interval, we shall not regret our lack of interest. Willingness to consider foreign judicial views in comparable cases is not surprising in a Nation that from its birth has given a decent respect to the opinions of mankind. One source told Hersh that ‘after a decent interval,’ he would depart. These orders were invariably cancelled, after a decent interval, due to the whims of our fictitious clients. For our grand finale, ordered after a decent interval, there was only ever going to be one choice for me, the dark treacle custard tart with rum soaked raisins. Synonyms proper, correct, appropriate, apt, apposite, fitting, fit, befitting, right, suitable, respectable, dignified, becoming, decorous, seemly, modest, nice, tasteful, in good taste, refined, genteel 1.2 Not likely to shock or embarrass others. 得体的，恰当的 a decent high-necked dress 得体的高领女装。 Example sentencesExamples And for heaven's sake people, put some decent clothes on your daughter. I also wondered why a manufacturer would make an otherwise decent dress too sheer so everyone can have a perve at your undies if you wear it. He also made the request that people who attended should attend in decent dress, as per a golf course. By the time she was dressed and looking somewhat decent, she had only three minutes until Aidan was due to arrive. From the sounds downstairs, my mother was trying to recover from last night's hangover and put on a decent dress for her daughters' weddings. She made for a decent picture dressed in simple dark brown cashmere, and her hair placed in a simple bun at the nape of her neck. She got out of bed and changed into a decent dress of woolspun. Others find her propensity for tacky glamour and ostentatious lack of decent clothing a little too much to bear. Coincidentally, she had on very decent clothes as well, I think it was a buttoned up cardigan with jeans. Besides, I also don't want to see your hairy chest… wear some decent clothes. 1.3informal Sufficiently clothed to see visitors. 〈非正式〉穿好了衣服的，穿戴停当的 make yourself decent Example sentencesExamples Over the weekend I tend to wander around in my pyjamas, contact lenses not yet inserted, until after breakfast, before attempting to dress and get decent. "Yeah, well I'm glad one person is half decent here besides myself. Now go get yourself decent, I'll call a cab ‘Lyn are you there?’ Andrea said knocking. ‘Are you decent?’ 2attributive Of an acceptable standard; satisfactory. 过得去的，合意的，舒适的，满意的 people need decent homes 人们需要体面的家。 find me a decent cup of coffee 给我一杯好咖啡。 Example sentencesExamples A respected international footballer speaking decent Spanish and enjoying life in Madrid should shut up both the snobs and the Europhobes. Naples suffers from a dearth of decent affordable accommodation. We don't have a preference for any particular part of town, just a nice B&B with decent Tube access. The eight English clubs with the most money should really compete for the European places if they have a half decent manager and appropriate board level backing. Try as I would, I couldn't seem to make a decent cup of tea, and it even looked odd - a dismal grey instead of a healthy brown. We want clean, quiet hospital wards with appropriate privacy and decent food. Those of us who depend on a decent public transport service are entitled to ask Mr Hughes for a list of those bus routes he intends to chop if he is elected. The defense has been respectable and the pitching decent. Leeds Council has been working successfully for a number of years with many responsible landlords who provide decent accommodation. Quite how authentically Tunisian the snake charmers, contortionists and belly dancers were I don't know, but it was a good laugh and the meal was decent enough. Many women are angry that the system fails to give them a decent income and it is an issue that is likely to affect their votes on polling day. As always I struck up a conversation with the barista, commenting it had been three days since I'd had a decent cup of coffee. The text is a decent size; leading satisfactory; and it's longish - nearly 400 pages - but not too long. The truth is, most lawyers in Canada make a decent, modest living. They were both pretty ordinary, lived normal lives, made satisfactory grades and were decent looking. Don't get me wrong I'm not a habititual complainer, but I expect to be given a decent service and politeness, not much to ask is it? They use cheap materials and actually destroy a lot of decent furniture and fittings in the process - if something is considered unfashionable it gets taken out or painted over. A decent crowd of 1,526 witnessed something of a shock result, but really the game was as one-sided as anything seen at Cougar Park this season. Anthony Fedorov has a decent voice, but he's more likely to make it through on sympathy votes. Without a decent road network and fitting sewerage system, Livingstone is bound to not only lose out on increased numbers of tourists but also job creation. Synonyms satisfactory, reasonable, fair, acceptable, adequate, sufficient, sufficiently good, good enough, ample, up to scratch, up to the mark, up to standard, up to par, competent, not bad, all right, average, tolerable, passable, suitable 2.1 Good. 好的，出色的 the deer are small: a 14-inch spread is a pretty decent buck Example sentencesExamples It's as good a day as I've had in football, and I was lucky enough to have some decent days as a player. What you have here is nice folks running a decent restaurant with unique food. So, if you live not too far away, make sure it is on your list of places to visit next time you want to sit down to a decent meal and a nice glass of wine without breaking the bank. Results are decent, the players are happy again, the club is doing well. She is offering to get me the Vegas Video 4.0 upgrade for my services, and that means decent colour correction tools, which I'd kill for. It's fair to say that a few decent shops would be nice and many areas of the town could do with a facelift, but that does not mean we live in misery and squalor. If you put all of those young players into the team at the same time, without some really decent players alongside them, you will lose. A person who loves watching movies can never be alone when they have a decent VHS or DVD player. Now I am not going to complain if they do put more stuff out of this nature but I think that there is quite a lot already - maybe I would like at least one programme a night but some decent drama would be nice as well. Apart from being a decent player, he's also a nice lad and is the skipper this year. A decent game of football was never likely as both teams struggled to adapt to the atrocious conditions. It was followed by a decent Caesar salad, with a tangy dressing that was appropriately not too creamy after the pot of cheese we'd just consumed. ‘They are playing really well and they have some decent young players, so they are a hard team to play against,’ conceded Paul. Somehow, the York players transformed themselves into what we all know they have the potential to be - decent rugby players. Because they have only a handful of decent players, trades have been hard to come by - you can't get something for nothing. It's satisfying to get two decent, sustaining main meals for two hungry blokes out of one medium sized chicken. In this vein, as well as the fact that this recipe is Ligurian in its history, it seemed only appropriate to post a decent pesto recipe. Cash also plays its part in managerial success, but the £5m that Moyes has been given to spend represents no more than a down payment on a decent Premiership player. If you think for a minute that I don't want a nice house, a decent car, gadgets and remote controls, then you've really got the wrong idea. It's been a disappointing season for us so far, so to have a decent run in the Cup is massive for us, and massive for the fans as well. 2.2British informal Kind, obliging, or generous. 〈英，非正式〉和蔼有礼的，慷慨的 that was pretty awfully decent of him 你真是太好了。 Example sentencesExamples He's a decent bloke, kind, generous and gentle to a fault. Frank has always been approachable, a very honest, decent, generous man, with a great sense of humour too. ‘David was the best husband you could wish for; he was loving, dependable and considerate, a very decent man,’ she said. Lots of Tories hold a strange affection to the ageing leftie, and when I read the last volume of his diaries he came across as a very decent, generous fellow. John and Rich were very decent though, agreeing to sleep on the lounge floor. Brett has been Mr House Husband today, cooking dinner and now doing the washing up, which is very decent of him as I'm feeling a bit rough for some reason. I enjoy Paul's company and judge him to be decent and generous-hearted. It was decent of him to apologize to you. I told her everything and she listened, which I thought was pretty decent of a total stranger who looked sober. We may disagree on much, but he's a thoughtful, decent man. So let no-one say British people aren't decent, aren't generous. If you stick around and look underneath the make-up you just may find a very decent and worthy human being. He was a grand decent neighbour, reliable and dependable, and one of the fine ‘old stock’ of the parish. Tommie was regarded among all who knew him as a very decent and obliging man. Synonyms honourable, honest, trustworthy, dependable, worthy, respectable, upright, clean-living, incorrupt, virtuous, good, ethical, moral Phrases do the decent thing Take the most honorable or appropriate course of action, even if is not necessarily in one's own interests. 做有体面的事 after his defeat he should do the decent thing and step down 在被击败之后，他应该不失体面地下台。 Example sentencesExamples Everyone makes mistakes and when they do, responsible media outlets do the decent thing and retract, apologise and pay damages if necessary. You should do the decent thing and resign with immediate effect. It is high time that all concerned get off their horse and do the decent thing in the interest of the people. Joanna gets pregnant and Steve does the decent thing; he marries her. Politicians, on the other hand, are not generally known or recognised for doing the decent thing, most especially in the campaign leading up to a general election. Origin Mid 16th century (in the sense ‘suitable, appropriate’): from Latin decent- ‘being fitting’, from the verb decere. adj.1 phr.
随便看	Welkom we'll well well-abused well-accepted well-accomplished well-accorded well-according well-accoutred well-accredited well-accustomed well acquainted well-acted well-adapted welladay well adjusted well-adjusted well-administered well-adorned well-advanced well advanced well advised well-advised well-advisedly well-affected