Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Tolerably; moderately.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb Tolerably; moderately.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a passable fashion, moderately; adequately.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb to a moderately sufficient extent or degree

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word passably.

Examples

  • It was then that Mr. Sheeny detailed to me the particulars to which I have briefly adverted; and, informing me at the same time that he had a family in England who would feel obliged to me for his release, and that his most intimate friend the English ambassador would move heaven and earth to revenge his fall, he directed my attention to a portmanteau passably well filled, which he hoped would satisfy the cupidity of my troops.

    Burlesques 2006

  • It was then that Mr. Sheeny detailed to me the particulars to which I have briefly adverted; and, informing me at the same time that he had a family in England who would feel obliged to me for his release, and that his most intimate friend the English ambassador would move heaven and earth to revenge his fall, he directed my attention to a portmanteau passably well filled, which he hoped would satisfy the cupidity of my troops.

    The Tremendous Adventures of Major Gahagan 1838

  • It was then that Mr. Sheeny detailed to me the particulars to which I have briefly adverted; and, informing me at the same time that he had a family in England who would feel obliged to me for his release, and that his most intimate friend the English ambassador would move heaven and earth to revenge his fall, he directed my attention to a portmanteau passably well filled, which he hoped would satisfy the cupidity of my troops.

    Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray 1837

  • It's all passably jolly, but the show, with book and lyrics by Peter Sham and music by Brad Carroll, misses a trick in not doing more to satirise operatic conventions.

    Lend Me A Tenor, The Musical - review 2011

  • Such an approach had worked quite well in Europe and at least passably well in East Asia and Latin America.

    Between War and Peace Col. Matthew Moten 2011

  • Philip Glass was probably the last one whose name would be passably well known to the public at large, and even Mr. Glass isn't nearly as famous as, say, Aaron Copland.

    The Best Composer You've Never Heard Of Terry Teachout 2012

  • When they were done spraying her, though, even she looked passably attractive.

    Shore Thing Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi 2011

  • Such an approach had worked quite well in Europe and at least passably well in East Asia and Latin America.

    Between War and Peace Col. Matthew Moten 2011

  • It's all passably jolly, but the show, with book and lyrics by Peter Sham and music by Brad Carroll, misses a trick in not doing more to satirise operatic conventions.

    Lend Me A Tenor, The Musical - review 2011

  • Even if this were a passably good idea, the score would have sunk the show, for the songs are period pastiches so anonymous as to actively resist recollection.

    Don't Let its Name Be a Curse Terry Teachout 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.