Acceptable Meaning
/əkˈsɛp.tə.bəl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjWorthy, decent, sure of being accepted or received with at least moderate pleasure.
adjBarely worthy, less than excellent; passable.
Sentence Examples
Doing math is the only socially acceptable way to masturbate in public.
Flowers are always acceptable.
Children must learn socially acceptable behaviour.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
A score above 80 percent is considered ____ for passing the exam.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The noise level in the library was not ____ to the students.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English acceptable, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French acceptable, from Late Latin acceptābilis (“worthy of acceptance”). Morphologically accept + -able.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I think if post commanders of the unchaplained posts could employ acceptable clergymen […] then the needs might be met."
— 1883, United States. War Department, Annual Reports of the War Department, volume 1, page 128:
"A site that carried [sexually explicit] material, but that gated it off from children through credit cards or other mechanisms to verify the age of the user, would have an acceptable defense under the act."
— 1999 February 1, Pamela Mendels, “Judge Delays Online Pornography Law”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Oct 2022:
"The whole range of the knowable is divided into two classes, the acceptable and the avoidable. The acceptables are: Śiva, Śakti, Vidyesa, Mantra, Mantreśvara and the Jivas."
— 1922, Madhusūdan Kaul, “Introduction”, in Sri Mālinīvijayottara Tantram (Kashmir Series of Texts and Studies; XXXVII), Bombay: […] “Tatva-vivechaka” Press, page xvii:
"The good old acceptables are called “character” actors. An actor of the versatile order is called, casually, even contemptuously, a “character” actor."
— c. 1929–1930, Harry Alan Potamkin, “A Diet of Stars”, in Lewis Jacobs, editor, The Compound Cinema: The Film Writings of Harry Alan Potamkin (Studies in Culture & Communication), New York, N.Y.; London: Teachers College Press, published 1977, →ISBN, part 3 (Miscellany), section 9 (Other Writings), page 565:
"Close to 3 percent of the acceptables are free of DMF teeth while none of the rejectables have fewer than 7 DMF teeth."
— 1941 July 4, Henry Klein, “The Dental Status and Dental Needs of Young Adult Males, Rejectable or Acceptable for Military Service, According to Selective Service Dental Requirements”, in Public Health Reports, volume 56, number 27, Washington, D.C.: United States Public Health Service, pages 1373–1374:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A score above 80 percent is considered ____ for passing the exam.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The noise level in the library was not ____ to the students.