personable

[pur-suh-nuh-buh l]

See more synonyms for personable on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of pleasing personal appearance; handsome or comely; attractive.
having an agreeable or pleasing personality; affable; amiable; sociable.

Origin of personable

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at person, -able

Related formsper·son·a·ble·ness, nounper·son·a·bly, adverbqua·si-per·son·a·ble, adjectivequa·si-per·son·a·bly, adverbun·per·son·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for personable

Contemporary Examples

Though never handsome, Spahn was a strong solidly built man in his youth with a plain yet personable manner.
Gay Talese on Charlie Manson’s Home on the Range
Gay Talese
October 31, 2014
Personable and approachable, Jordin was easy to give instruction to because she was present.
‘American Idol’ Bandleader Rickey Minor on His Favorite Performance and What It Takes to Win
Kevin Fallon
May 20, 2014
She was another one who was present and really—she had the background, she was personable, and she wanted to learn.
‘American Idol’ Bandleader Rickey Minor on His Favorite Performance and What It Takes to Win
Kevin Fallon
May 20, 2014
Liz, a small, personable woman, says she does not want to punish Cheryl Thayer.
The Stacks: The Searing Story of How Murder Stalked a Tiny New York Town
E. Jean Carroll
April 19, 2014
The personable lead character now runs a soul food restaurant with her son in St. Louis.
Why Oprah Winfrey’s New Shows Are Working for OWN
Allison Samuels
June 13, 2013

Historical Examples

He seems to me quite a personable young man, and he may be useful!
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim
A tall, personable gentleman he is, something stiff and stately.
Robin Tremayne
Emily Sarah Holt
"And yet you are a personable man enough," she said rather thoughtfully.
The Lost Continent
C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne
He was not of the common, straight-featured, personable type.
In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Big, lovable, personable auntie, could the pity of it be that she was always submitting?
Selina
George Madden Martin

British Dictionary definitions for personable

personable

adjective

pleasant in appearance and personality

Derived Formspersonableness, nounpersonably, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for personable

adj.

"pleasing in one's person," early 15c., from person + -able, or else from Middle French personable. Related: Personably.

personable

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Related Words

Examples from the Web for personable

Contemporary Examples

Though never handsome, Spahn was a strong solidly built man in his youth with a plain yet personable manner.

Personable and approachable, Jordin was easy to give instruction to because she was present.

She was another one who was present and really—she had the background, she was personable, and she wanted to learn.

Liz, a small, personable woman, says she does not want to punish Cheryl Thayer.

The personable lead character now runs a soul food restaurant with her son in St. Louis.

Historical Examples

He seems to me quite a personable young man, and he may be useful!

A tall, personable gentleman he is, something stiff and stately.

"And yet you are a personable man enough," she said rather thoughtfully.

He was not of the common, straight-featured, personable type.

Big, lovable, personable auntie, could the pity of it be that she was always submitting?

personable

Word Origin and History for personable

adj.

Origin of personable