ac·cept·a·ble

(ăk-sĕp′tə-bəl)

adj.

1. Adequate to satisfy a need, requirement, or standard; satisfactory: an acceptable excuse; acceptable behavior. See Synonyms at sufficient.

2. Satisfactory but not superior; passable: The restaurant was acceptable but did not live up to its reputation. See Synonyms at average.

ac·cept′a·bil′i·ty, ac·cept′a·ble·ness n.

ac·cept′a·bly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

acceptable

(əkˈsɛptəbəl)

adj

1. satisfactory; adequate

2. pleasing; welcome

3. tolerable

acˌceptaˈbility, acˈceptableness n

acˈceptably adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ac•cept•a•ble

(ækˈsɛp tə bəl)

adj.

1. capable or worthy of being accepted.

2. pleasing to the receiver; agreeable.

3. meeting minimum requirements; barely adequate.

4. capable of being endured; tolerable: acceptable levels of radiation.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin]

ac•cept`a•bil′i•ty, n.

ac•cept′a•bly, adv.

acceptable

You say that something is acceptable when it is satisfactory, or when people do not object to it.

To my relief he found the article acceptable.

Are we saying that violence is acceptable?

You do not say that someone is 'acceptable' to do something. You say that they are willing to do it.

Ed was quite willing to let us help him.

Would you be willing to go to Berkhamsted?

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	acceptable - worthy of acceptance or satisfactory; "acceptable levels of radiation"; "performances varied from acceptable to excellent" satisfactory - giving satisfaction; "satisfactory living conditions"; "his grades were satisfactory" unacceptable - not acceptable; not welcome; "a word unacceptable in polite society"; "an unacceptable violation of personal freedom"
	2.	acceptable - judged to be in conformity with approved usage; "acceptable English usage" linguistics - the scientific study of language received, standard - conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers; "standard English" (American); "received standard English is sometimes called the King's English" (British)
	3.	acceptable - meeting requirements; "the step makes a satisfactory seat" satisfactory good - having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; "good news from the hospital"; "a good report card"; "when she was good she was very very good"; "a good knife is one good for cutting"; "this stump will make a good picnic table"; "a good check"; "a good joke"; "a good exterior paint"; "a good secretary"; "a good dress for the office"
	4.	acceptable - adequate for the purpose; "the water was acceptable for drinking" fit - meeting adequate standards for a purpose; "a fit subject for discussion"; "it is fit and proper that you be there"; "water fit to drink"; "fit for duty"; "do as you see fit to"

acceptable

adjective

1. satisfactory, fair, all right, suitable, sufficient, good enough, standard, adequate, so-so (informal), tolerable, up to scratch (informal), passable, up to the mark There was one restaurant that looked acceptable.
satisfactory unacceptable, unsatisfactory, unsuitable

2. tolerable, bearable, allowable, admissible, supportable, endurable, sufferable It is becoming more and more acceptable for women to drink.

3. pleasant, pleasing, welcome, satisfying, grateful, refreshing, delightful, gratifying, agreeable, pleasurable a most acceptable present

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

acceptable

adjective

1. Capable of being accepted:

admissible, unobjectionable.

2. Of moderately good quality but less than excellent:

adequate, all right, average, common, decent, fair, fairish, goodish, moderate, passable, respectable, satisfactory, sufficient, tolerable.

Informal: OK, tidy.

Translations

مَقْبُولمُرضِ

přijatelnývhodnývítaný

acceptabelvelkommen

annehmbar befriedigend willkommen akzeptabel

αποδεκτός

aceptable admisible grato

hyväksyttävä

acceptable admissible bienvenu

prihvatljiv

aîgengilegurviîeigandi, ánægjulegur

accettabile ammissibile gradevole adottabile

受け入れられる

받아들일 만한

acceptabel aanvaardbaar

akseptabel gledelig hyggelig tilfredsstillende

dopuszczalny

aceitável

приемлемый

sprejemljivzadovoljiv

godtagbar

ที่ยอมรับได้

kabul edilebilir hoş

chấp nhận được

可接受的合意的

acceptable

[əkˈseptəbl] ADJ [behaviour, plan, offer] → aceptable; [gift] → grato
that would not be acceptable to the government → eso no le resultaría aceptable al gobierno
that kind of behaviour is not socially acceptable → ese tipo de comportamiento no es socialmente aceptable

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

acceptable

[ækˈsɛptəb^əl] adj

(= permissible, suitable) [level, behaviour] → acceptable
to be acceptable to sb → convenir à qn
it is acceptable for sb to do sth → il est acceptable que qn fasse qch
It is not acceptable for pupils to argue with their teachers → Il n'est pas acceptable que les élèves tiennent tête à leurs professeurs.
It is becoming more acceptable for women to drink
BUT On accepte de mieux en mieux que les femmes boivent.

(= adequate) [standard, food] → acceptable

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

acceptable

adj → annehmbar (to für), akzeptabel (to für); behaviour → zulässig; (= suitable) gift → passend; that would be most acceptable → das wäre sehr or höchst willkommen; any job would be acceptable to him → ihm wäre jede Stelle recht; only the best is acceptable → nur das Beste kann angenommen werden

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

acceptable

[əkˈsɛptəbl] adj (satisfactory) → accettabile; (welcome, gift, offer) → gradito/a
tea is always acceptable → un tè è sempre ben accetto, un tè lo si beve sempre volentieri

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

accept

(əkˈsept) verb

1. to take (something offered). He accepted the gift.

2. to believe in, agree to or acknowledge. We accept your account of what happened; Their proposal was accepted; He accepted responsibility for the accident.

acˈceptable adjective

1. satisfactory. The decision should be acceptable to most people.

2. pleasing. a very acceptable gift.

acˈceptably adverb

acˈceptance noun

We have had few acceptances to our invitation.

acˈcepted adjective

generally recognized. It is an accepted fact that the world is round.

acceptable

→ مَقْبُول přijatelný acceptabel annehmbar αποδεκτός aceptable hyväksyttävä acceptable prihvatljiv accettabile 受け入れられる 받아들일 만한 acceptabel akseptabel dopuszczalny aceitável приемлемый godtagbar ที่ยอมรับได้ kabul edilebilir chấp nhận được 可接受的

acceptable

a. aceptable, permitido-a; admitido-a;

___ daily intake → ___ cosumo diario.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

We can imagine, therefore, that among such folk a settler, of Aeolic origin like Hesiod, who clearly was well acquainted with the Ionian epos, would naturally see that the only outlet for his gifts lay in applying epic poetry to new themes acceptable to his hearers.

View in context

This brought him into relation with queer characters, some of whom were not altogether scrupulous in their methods of making a living, murder being an acceptable means to that end.

View in context

As the bridal group approached, a hearty cheer was raised in the Rainbow yard; and Ben Winthrop, whose jokes had retained their acceptable flavour, found it agreeable to turn in there and receive congratulations; not requiring the proposed interval of quiet at the Stone-pits before joining the company.

View in context

It was now the middle of May, and the morning was remarkably serene, when Mr Allworthy walked forth on the terrace, where the dawn opened every minute that lovely prospect we have before described to his eye; and now having sent forth streams of light, which ascended the blue firmament before him, as harbingers preceding his pomp, in the full blaze of his majesty rose the sun, than which one object alone in this lower creation could be more glorious, and that Mr Allworthy himself presented--a human being replete with benevolence, meditating in what manner he might render himself most acceptable to his Creator, by doing most good to his creatures.

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"She must not suppose it not wanted, not acceptable, at least: and its having been originally her brother's gift makes no difference; for as she was not prevented from offering, nor you from taking it on that account, it ought not to prevent you from keeping it.

View in context

And in return you preach to your employers the brands of metaphysics that are especially acceptable to them; and the especially acceptable brands are acceptable because they do not menace the established order of society."

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The crouching servility, usually so acceptable a quality in a slave, did not answer when manifested toward her.

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Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies.

View in context

By nature a "one-man" dog, all this was very acceptable to Jerry.

View in context

The kind of renown most accessible and acceptable to mediocrity.

View in context

"We should not like her so well as we do, sir, if we could suppose it; but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor's advantage; she knows how very acceptable it must be, at Miss Taylor's time of life, to be settled in a home of her own, and how important to her to be secure of a comfortable provision, and therefore cannot allow herself to feel so much pain as pleasure.

View in context

And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a great expense while we are here."

View in context