tolerable
gb/tˈɑlɚəbəl/ us/tˈɑlɚəbəl/
B2
English
~ 7600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
acceptable or bearable, not too bad
Bad or difficult, but not too bad or too difficult to live with or accept.
Usage pattern:
[something] is tolerable / a tolerable [noun]
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').
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.)
Collocations
tolerable level
|tolerable amount
|tolerable pain
|barely tolerable
|socially tolerable
|make [something] tolerable
Themes
daily life
|evaluation
|health
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The heat was tolerable in the shade, but not in the sun.
- His behavior at dinner was just about tolerable, but I was still annoyed.
- 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.
- The pain is tolerable, so I do not need strong medicine.
- 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.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
fairly good, more than acceptable
Quite good or okay, but not very good or excellent.
Usage pattern:
a tolerable [ability/quality/amount]
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'.
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.)
Collocations
tolerable performance
|tolerable standard
|tolerable job
|tolerable salary
Themes
evaluation
|education
|arts
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She turned in a tolerable essay, but it lacked a clear argument.
- His French is tolerable, so he can manage simple conversations when he travels.
- 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.
- The food at that café is tolerable, but not special.
- 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.
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.