What does passably mean?
Passably is an adverb meaning that something is acceptable or satisfactory, while falling short of being notably good, skilled, or impressive. It is often used when giving a qualified assessment of a performance, piece of work, or practical outcome. For example, saying that a team played 'passably well' indicates that it performed adequately without implying excellence. The word is useful when the speaker wants to acknowledge a reasonable standard while making the limitations clear. It can sound mildly critical or dismissive, especially when contrasted with an enthusiastic description, but it is generally less severe than saying that something was poor. Passably is also used in more technical or evaluative contexts, such as judging writing, design, equipment, or software.
adverbIn a manner that is acceptable or satisfactory but not especially good or impressive.
- To an acceptable or satisfactory standard, but not to an outstanding one.
"The new team performed passably well in its first season."
"The singer gave a passably competent performance at the local talent show."
"The software works passably well on older devices."
Passably is the language of qualified approval: the result clears the bar without setting a high one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does passably come from?
The adverb passably was formed from the adjective passable by adding the suffix -ly. Passable itself derives from the English verb pass and the suffix -able, ultimately tracing back to Latin passare, 'to step' or 'to pass'. Related English words, including passage, passenger, passport, and compass, come through the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How passably is actually used
The adverb is especially common in expressions such as 'passably well' and 'passably good'. It conveys restrained or mildly negative assessment rather than strong enthusiasm.