acceptable
Americanadjective
-
capable or worthy of being accepted.
-
pleasing to the receiver; satisfactory; agreeable; welcome.
-
meeting only minimum requirements; barely adequate.
an acceptable performance.
-
capable of being endured; tolerable; bearable.
acceptable levels of radiation.
adjective
-
satisfactory; adequate
-
pleasing; welcome
-
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.
"For somebody to think it's acceptable to wedge poo bags into a Unesco World Heritage site, well actually it makes you quite sad," she adds.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
“We have to have a deal that’s acceptable to me,” Mr. Trump said, “and part of the deal’s going to be we want free traffic of oil and everything else.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
This makes it a welcome passenger on lazy day trips or late-night drives, and a generally acceptable ambient addition to crowded good times.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
“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
Then she said, “Each of you will be asked one question. You will have one opportunity to give an acceptable answer.”
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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.
