tolerable
gb/tˈɑlɚəbəl/ us/tˈɑlɚəbəl/
B2
English
~ 7600
elviselhető, egészen jó, elfogadható, tűrhető
B2
1
elviselhető
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is tolerable / a tolerable [noun]
The heat was tolerable in the shade, but not in the sun.
Az árnyékban elviselhető volt a hőség, de a napon nem.
His behavior at dinner was just about tolerable, but I was still annoyed.
A vacsorán a viselkedése éppen csak elviselhető volt, de még így is bosszantott.
The noise from the street is tolerable during the day but not at night.
The side effects are tolerable for most patients and usually fade over time.
We don't love this solution, but it's tolerable until we find something better.
Learner examples
The room is small, but it is tolerable for one night.
A szoba kicsi, de egy éjszakára elviselhető.
The pain is tolerable, so I do not need strong medicine.
A fájdalom elviselhető, ezért nincs szükségem erős fájdalomcsillapítóra.
Her job is not great, but it is tolerable for now.
The bus was crowded, but still tolerable.
The noise from the party was loud but tolerable.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tolerable' with 'tolerant'. 'Tolerable' describes a thing or situation that is just acceptable or bearable (e.g. 'tolerable noise'), while 'tolerant' describes a person who accepts others' opinions or behaviors (e.g. 'a tolerant teacher').
Meaning
acceptable or bearable, not too bad
Collocations
tolerable level
|tolerable amount
|tolerable pain
|barely tolerable
|socially tolerable
|make [something] tolerable
Synonyms
bearable (Emphasizes that something can be endured, often used for pain or stress.)
|
acceptable (Slightly more neutral and formal; does not always suggest discomfort.)
|
livable (Often used about conditions or situations; slightly more informal than 'tolerable'.)
Antonyms
intolerable (Direct opposite; describes something so bad or unpleasant that it cannot be accepted or endured.)
|
unbearable (Focuses on something causing too much pain or discomfort to endure.)
Themes
daily life
|evaluation
|health
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Bad or difficult, but not too bad or too difficult to live with or accept.
Acceptable in quality, amount, or unpleasantness; not very good, but not so bad or severe that it cannot be accepted or endured.
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
a tolerable [ability/quality/amount]
She turned in a tolerable essay, but it lacked a clear argument.
Egészen jó esszét adott be, de hiányzott belőle a világos érvelés.
His French is tolerable, so he can manage simple conversations when he travels.
Egészen jó a franciatudása, így utazáskor elboldogul az egyszerű beszélgetésekben.
The actor gave a tolerable performance, though the reviews were not enthusiastic.
The company offers tolerable pay, but the working hours are long.
We reached a tolerable level of progress by the end of the week.
Learner examples
Her English is tolerable, but she still makes many small mistakes.
Egészen jó az angolja, de még mindig sok apró hibát vét.
The food at that café is tolerable, but not special.
Abban a kávézóban tűrhető az étel, de nem különleges.
He is a tolerable singer, but not good enough to be famous.
The movie was tolerable, so we stayed until the end.
I have a tolerable understanding of the rules of the game.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense in everyday speech where 'okay', 'pretty good', or 'not bad' sound more natural. In casual conversation, native speakers rarely say 'tolerable movie'; they more often say 'okay movie' or 'not bad'.
Meaning
fairly good, more than acceptable
Collocations
tolerable performance
|tolerable standard
|tolerable job
|tolerable salary
Synonyms
adequate (Similar level of quality, but sounds more neutral and official; often used for minimum required standards.)
|
decent (Informal and slightly more positive or friendly in tone than 'tolerable'.)
|
passable (Suggests just good enough to be accepted or used, without praise.)
Antonyms
poor (Describes quality that is clearly below what is wanted or needed.)
|
unsatisfactory (Formal word meaning not good enough to meet expectations or requirements.)
Themes
evaluation
|education
|arts
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Quite good or okay, but not very good or excellent.
Fairly good or satisfactory in quality, ability, or degree; noticeably better than merely acceptable but not excellent.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tolerable
IPA
GB/tˈɑlɚəbəl/
US/tˈɑlɚəbəl/
Syllables & stress
tol - er - able (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tol)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: tolerable
Word family
Related words
tolerably
adverb C1
toleration
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
tolerability
noun
Expressions
within tolerable limits
1/wɪðˈɪn tˈɑlɚəbəl lˈɪmɪts/
fixed phrase
inside an acceptable range or level
Not too strong, too big, or too bad; at a level that people can accept or live with.
Examples
- The noise from the construction site is loud but still within tolerable limits for most residents.
- Doctors say the side effects are within tolerable limits for the majority of patients.
- As long as the costs stay within tolerable limits, we will continue the project.