If something is middling, it isn't terrible and it isn't great — it's mediocre. You might describe your chances of beating your dad at tennis as middling.

What does it mean when someone is middling?

1 : of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality. 2 : mediocre, second-rate. 3 : of, relating to, or being a middle class.

What does middling power mean?

In international relations, a middle power is a sovereign state that is not a great power nor a superpower, but still has large or moderate influence and international recognition. The concept of the "middle power" dates back to the origins of the European state system.