adjective

tolerable

TO-luh-ruhbl

adjective

Able to be endured or put up with; bearable.

"The heat was tolerable as long as we stayed in the shade."

"His level of noise complaints became barely tolerable by the third week."

Acceptable but not impressive; passable or mediocre.

"The food at the new café was tolerable, nothing more."

How to Use Tolerable

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that can be put up with, or that's just okay rather than great.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "tolerable" (able to be endured, or just okay) with "tolerant" (accepting of others' views or behaviour).

Easily confused with

tolerant →

more tolerable comparative, more tolerable comparative, most tolerable superlative, most tolerable superlative

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The heat was _____ as long as we stayed in the shade.

From Middle French "tolerable," from Latin "tolerābilis."

abideable bearable endurable livable portable sufferable supportable survivable withstandable

insufferable insupportable intolerable nonsurvivable nontolerable unabideable unbearable unendurable

bad permissible portable unbearable tolerant hospitable intolerable lasting

able fable cable table sable gable viable liable stable unable usable enable

abideable bearable endurable livable portable sufferable supportable survivable withstandable insufferable insupportable intolerable