tolerably
gb/tˈoʊlɚəbli/ us/tˈoʊlɚəbli/
C1
English
~ 6800
Senses
0 senses
adverb
formal
C1
property
1
to a moderate or fair degree
fairly or reasonably, but not very
Usage pattern:
tolerably [adjective/adverb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tolerably' with 'tolerantly'. 'Tolerably' means 'fairly' or 'reasonably', while 'tolerantly' means 'in a tolerant or accepting way' toward people or ideas. Learners may also overuse 'tolerably' in casual speech, where 'fairly' or 'pretty' would sound more natural.
Synonyms
fairly (More common and neutral in everyday speech.)
|
reasonably (Implies that the level meets expectations or a standard.)
|
moderately (Slightly more formal and often used with measurements or intensity.)
|
somewhat (Can sound more hesitant or weaker than 'tolerably'.)
Antonyms
extremely (Expresses a very high degree, the opposite of moderate degree.)
|
barely (Suggests almost not at all, lower than the level implied by 'tolerably'.)
Collocations
tolerably well
|tolerably good
|tolerably clear
|tolerably accurate
|tolerably happy
|tolerably successful
Themes
evaluation
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She speaks French tolerably well, enough to handle everyday conversations.
- The instructions were tolerably clear, though a few details were missing.
- His latest novel is tolerably good, but not as strong as his earlier work.
- The presentation went tolerably smoothly despite a few technical problems.
- I’m tolerably sure we locked the door before leaving.
Learner examples
- He plays the guitar tolerably well.
- The food in that café is tolerably good.
- Her English is tolerably clear when she speaks slowly.
- I feel tolerably happy with my exam results.
- The movie was tolerably interesting, but I would not watch it again.
adverb
literary
C1
property
2
to a bearable or endurable degree
enough so that something is not too painful or too hard to accept
Usage pattern:
tolerably [adjective/adverb]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use means 'with tolerance' toward people. Here, 'tolerably' is about how easy or hard a situation is to endure, not about attitudes toward others. In modern English, speakers more often say 'bearable' or 'not too bad' instead of 'tolerably'.
Synonyms
bearably (Focuses directly on the idea that something can be endured.)
|
passably (Suggests that something is just good enough, often with mild criticism.)
Antonyms
intolerably (Means that something cannot be endured; it is too painful or unpleasant.)
|
unbearably (Strongly emphasizes that the situation causes too much pain or discomfort to continue.)
Collocations
tolerably comfortable
|tolerably warm
|tolerably quiet
|tolerably safe
|tolerably stable
Themes
health
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Despite the heat, the room was kept tolerably cool by the old fan.
- The journey was long but tolerably comfortable, thanks to the wide seats.
- Her injury made walking painful but tolerably so, and she refused a wheelchair.
- For a city center, the flat is tolerably quiet at night.
- Conditions in the camp were harsh but tolerably safe compared with the front line.
Learner examples
- The bed was hard but tolerably comfortable.
- The pain in his leg was tolerably strong, so he could still work.
- The house is old, but it stays tolerably warm in winter.
- The room is small, but it is tolerably quiet for study.
- The road is bad, but the ride is tolerably smooth in this car.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tolerably
IPA
GB/tˈoʊlɚəbli/
US/tˈoʊlɚəbli/
Syllables & stress
tol - er - ably (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tol)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tolerably
- Plural: tolerablies
Word family
Forms
tolerablies
noun
Related words
tolerantly
adverb
toleration
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.