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Showing results for passably. Search instead for passibly.
Synonyms

passably

American  
[pas-uh-blee, pah-suh-] / ˈpæs ə bli, ˈpɑ sə- /

adverb

  1. fairly; moderately.

    a passably good novel.


passably British  
/ ˈpɑːsəblɪ /

adverb

  1. fairly; somewhat

  2. acceptably; well enough

    she sings passably

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of passably

First recorded in 1600–10; passable + -ly


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.

See Examples For:

It doesn’t solve everything, but mutual assured destruction worked passably well for 70 years to hold off nuclear Armageddon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

Kelly has done an even starker about-face on one of her favorite topics these days: trans issues, on which she used to be passably sympathetic.

From Slate ● May 6, 2026

That, and mimicry: exceptional on Anderson’s part, less on that of Sewell, who has a raspier voice and a more passably serious manner than the prince displayed on TV.

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2024

For about three quarters of the year, I make do with merely passably flavorful frozen berries that I deploy to chuck into smoothies and brighten up my oatmeal.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2023

I get out of the bathroom as soon as my teeth are passably clean.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

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