passable

adjective

pass·​able ˈpa-sə-bəl How to pronounce passable (audio)
Synonyms of passablenext
1
a
: capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on
passable roads
b
: capable of being freely circulated
2
: good enough : adequate
passably adverb

Examples of passable in a Sentence

The main road is passable but most others are still covered with snow. The river is passable during the summer months. He did a passable job with the assignment. She plays passable golf but prefers tennis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At times, only one lane in each direction remained passable, backing up traffic for hours. Jose Fabian, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026 Even White — who has improved his defense to passable status — isn’t always the best pairing with Giddey due to the resulting lack of defensive resistance at the perimeter. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026 In ideal conditions, the road is technically passable for most vehicles, but high clearance and four-wheel drive are strongly recommended. Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025 By 1958, the Iwasaki Group was exporting a passable rib eye to the United States, to be used as a promotional item by a beer company. Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for passable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of passable was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Passable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passable. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

passable

adjective
pass·​able ˈpas-ə-bəl How to pronounce passable (audio)
1
: capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on
passable roads
2
: barely good enough : tolerable
a passable imitation
passably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on passable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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