passable

adjective

pass·​able ˈpa-sə-bəl 

1

a

: capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on

passable roads

b

: capable of being freely circulated

2

: good enough : adequate

passably

ˈpa-sə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of passable

• navigable

Examples of passable in a Sentence

The main road is passable but most others are still covered with snow.

The river is passable during the summer months.

He did a passable job with the assignment.

She plays passable golf but prefers tennis.

Recent Examples on the Web

At least her original music is passable, even if the narrative context surrounding it can’t help but evoke Netflix’s much more successful KPop Demon Hunters. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026

Regardless, in order to actually save their season, the Trojans need Maiava to be more than just a passable Big Ten quarterback. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Last fall, Colby stepped in against New Orleans in Week 2, looked passable for about three quarters, and then spent two months resembling a guy trying to halt an oncoming freight train with a foam pool noodle. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2026

There were 23 routes that were not passable and another 19 identified that had cautions, McDermott said. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for passable

• impassable
• impassible
• irascible
• unsurpassable

Kids Definition

passable

adjective

pass·​able ˈpas-ə-bəl 

1

: capable of being passed, crossed, or traveled on

passable roads

2

: barely good enough : tolerable

a passable imitation

passably

-blē 

adverb