acceptable

[ak-sep-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. capable or worthy of being accepted.

2. pleasing to the receiver; satisfactory; agreeable; welcome.

3. meeting only minimum requirements; barely adequate.

   an acceptable performance.

4. capable of being endured; tolerable; bearable.

   acceptable levels of radiation.

acceptable

/ əkˈsɛptəbəl /

adjective

1. satisfactory; adequate

2. pleasing; welcome

3. tolerable

Other Word Forms

• acceptability noun
• acceptableness noun
• acceptably adverb
• unacceptability noun
• unacceptable adjective
• unacceptableness noun
• unacceptably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of acceptable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word acceptābilis. See accept, -able

Example Sentences

Underwood said the restaurant will remain closed “until the operator can correct the major violations and demonstrate acceptable food handling practices.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Members of the traveling press pool just went on asking questions as if this were normal, acceptable behavior.

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There are 28 key points and there are several on the face of it that could be acceptable to Ukraine.

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A senior US official told the BBC that special envoy Steve Witkoff had received input from both the Ukrainians and the Russians "on what terms are acceptable to them to end the war".

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Nuthatches, warblers, sparrows, and the occasional wood dove—perfectly acceptable birds all, to be sure, but where were the sage and mysterious owls?

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Related Words

• adequate 
• common 
• decent 
• fair 
• respectable 
• sufficient 
• tolerable