passably

/ˈpɑːsəbli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpæsəbli/ (ame, ipa) · /-blē -li/ (ame, mw)

passably — adverb

1. to a level that is good enough to be acceptable, though clearly not impressive o

1.副詞C1
釋義

to a level that is good enough to be acceptable, though clearly not impressive or skilled.

例句

Felipe plays the guitar passably, but he would not enter a real competition.

verb + passably for a skill done at an acceptable but not strong level

Mira speaks French passably well after only two months of evening classes.

common collocation: passably well

同義詞
  • tolerably

    very close in meaning; slightly more formal and bookish

  • adequately

    more neutral; focuses on meeting a requirement without the mild disappointment

  • decently

    warmer praise than 'passably'; suggests genuinely fine, not just acceptable

  • moderately

    describes the degree of a quality rather than how well something is done

反義詞
  • excellently

    describes a much higher standard than passably

  • poorly

    below the level of acceptability that passably implies

文法句型

verb + passably

passably + adjective

用法筆記

Often modifies an adjective or another adverb (passably good, passably well), softening it toward 'just good enough'. Mildly negative in tone — suggests the speaker expected or hoped for more.

常見錯誤

❌She sings passably bad.
✅She sings passably well.
💡passably modifies positive adjectives or adverbs to mean 'acceptably', not negative ones.
❌The food was passably.
✅The food was passably good.
💡passably is an adverb and needs an adjective or verb to modify; it cannot stand alone as a complement.