acceptable
Americanadjective
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capable or worthy of being accepted.
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pleasing to the receiver; satisfactory; agreeable; welcome.
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meeting only minimum requirements; barely adequate.
an acceptable performance.
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capable of being endured; tolerable; bearable.
acceptable levels of radiation.
adjective
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satisfactory; adequate
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pleasing; welcome
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tolerable
Other Word Forms
- acceptability noun
- acceptableness noun
- acceptably adverb
- unacceptability noun
- unacceptable adjective
- unacceptableness noun
- unacceptably adverb
Etymology
Origin of acceptable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word acceptābilis. See accept, -able
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Even if that sounds unusual to the crisis center worker, it is still a valid and acceptable answer.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
This kind of narrowing of the acceptable realm of conversation may have briefly led to a feeling that once marginalized groups were triumphing.
From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026
But some limits, especially of what’s acceptable, exist for good, sober reasons.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
"At the most vulnerable time in my entire life I was failed... it's just horrific knowing that with just basic care my daughter should be here, that's not acceptable," Alice said.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
“I don’t mind any of them, but dwarf is the appropriate word since I have dwarfism. But the acceptable term if you want to be politically correct is little person.”
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
