acceptable
uhk-SEHP-tuh-buhl
Acceptable (adj) means Good enough to be approved of or allowed; satisfactory. Example: “The landlord said the apartment was in acceptable condition.”
adj
1
Good enough to be approved of or allowed; satisfactory.
"The landlord said the apartment was in acceptable condition."
"Raising your voice at colleagues is not acceptable behavior."
"A small delay is acceptable, but please tell us if it gets longer."
How to use acceptable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGood enough to pass — meets the minimum standard, even if not impressive.
Common pairings
acceptable behavior
socially acceptable
acceptable level
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Word forms
- Plural
- acceptables
- Comparative
- more acceptable
- Superlative
- most acceptable
Fill the gap
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The landlord said the apartment was in _____ condition.
Etymology
From Old French acceptable, from Late Latin acceptabilis, "worthy of being accepted."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for acceptable
See all rhymes for acceptable →Frequently asked questions
What does “acceptable” mean?
The word “acceptable” means good enough to be approved of or allowed; satisfactory. In plain terms, good enough to pass — meets the minimum standard, even if not impressive.
How do you pronounce “acceptable”?
“Acceptable” is pronounced uhk-SEHP-tuh-buhl (/əkˈsɛp.tə.bəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “acceptable” in a sentence?
Here is “acceptable” used in a sentence: “The landlord said the apartment was in acceptable condition.”
What part of speech is “acceptable”?
“Acceptable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “acceptable” come from?
The word “acceptable” comes from Late Latin. From Old French acceptable, from Late Latin acceptabilis, "worthy of being accepted.".
Is “acceptable” a common word?
“Acceptable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'acceptable' and 'excellent'?
'Acceptable' means good enough to be approved of or allowed, meeting the minimum standard without being impressive. 'Excellent' means far above that standard, so calling work acceptable is faint praise while calling it excellent is high praise.
What is the difference between 'acceptable' and 'unacceptable'?
'Acceptable' means satisfactory and good enough to be approved or allowed, while 'unacceptable' means the opposite: not good enough and not to be allowed. The prefix 'un-' simply reverses the meaning.
What preposition is used with 'acceptable'?
'Acceptable' is most often followed by 'to' when naming who approves, as in 'the terms were acceptable to both sides.' It can also take 'for' when naming a purpose, as in 'acceptable for everyday use.'
Is 'acceptable' a positive or neutral word?
'Acceptable' is a mild, neutral-to-positive word meaning satisfactory or good enough to be allowed. It signals approval without enthusiasm, so it often implies something meets requirements but is not outstanding.
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