What does bearably mean?
Bearably is an adverb meaning 'to a degree that can be endured'. It describes conditions that are uncomfortable or unpleasant yet remain just within the limits of tolerance — weather that is bearably hot, a room that is bearably noisy, pain that is bearably dull. Because it marks the threshold between acceptable and unacceptable, it frequently implies a grudging 'just barely', and writers often use it alongside intensifiers like 'almost', 'barely', or 'no longer' to signal how close something is to becoming unbearable. The word derives from 'bearable', itself rooted in the verb 'bear', meaning to carry or endure, which traces back through Old English to Proto-Germanic origins. Bearably is most at home in descriptive and conversational English, particularly in complaints about heat, discomfort, or hardship. Its negative counterpart, 'unbearably', appears far more often, making 'bearably' a useful but comparatively rare marker of qualified endurance.
adverbIn a manner that can be tolerated or endured; to a degree that is just within the limits of what one can bear.
- To a degree that can be endured or tolerated; not so intense as to be unbearable.
"The summer heat was bearably humid once the evening breeze picked up."
"By late afternoon the rain had eased to a bearably light drizzle."
"The apartment was small but bearably quiet, and the rent was cheap."
Bearably lives in the narrow space between 'fine' and 'not fine' — it's the word for things you can just about put up with.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bearably
Bearably comes from 'bearable', the adjective formed on the verb 'bear', an ancient Old English verb ('beran') meaning to carry or endure, ultimately from Proto-Germanic roots. The suffix '-ably' was added to form the adverb, following the pattern of other '-able' adjectives. Cognates of the root include related Germanic words for carrying, and the same verb gives English such derivatives as 'burden-bearing' expressions and 'forbearance'.
Related word forms
How bearably is actually used
Bearably typically appears in descriptions of unpleasant conditions — heat, cold, pain, noise, crowding — that are at the outer edge of acceptability. It often carries an implicit sense of 'just barely', and is more common in informal and descriptive writing than in formal prose. The negative counterpart 'unbearably' is considerably more frequent in everyday usage.
Easily confused with bearably
Barley is a cereal grain, while 'bearably' means 'in a way that can be endured'; they merely sound somewhat similar.