How do you pronounce tolerable?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɑləɹəbl̩/.

Where does tolerable come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

tolerable

/ˈtɑləɹəbl̩/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.11 in modern English

Syllables: tol-er-able
IPA: /ˈtɑləɹəbl̩/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Capable of being borne, tolerated or endured; bearable or endurable.

adj

Moderate in degree; mediocre; passable, acceptable or so-so.

adj

Such as to be tolerated or countenanced; permissible; allowable.

adj

In fair health; passably well.

adv

tolerably; passably; moderately.

Example Sentences

"A cabled despatch is better than nothing, but a voicecast of tolerable quality is preferable, and in certain types of story a voicecast with live or recorded actuality is best of all."

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English tolerable, borrowed from Middle French tolerable, from Latin tolerābilis.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: tolerable, tolerābilis

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈtɑləɹəbl̩/
British English: /ˈtɒləɹəbl̩/

Inflected Forms

more tolerable (comparative) most tolerable (superlative) tollerable (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

biotolerable immunotolerable intolerable tolerability tolerableness tolerablish tolerably untolerable

Frequently Paired Words

tolerance tolerant tolerate lasting

Synonyms

livable sufferable withstandable lackluster middling adequate good enough average comme ci comme ça crappy moderate decent

Antonyms

intolerable unendurable excellent terrible unacceptable healthy as a horse poorly insufferable insupportable nonsurvivable nontolerable unabideable

Rhymes With

intolerable