respectable

[ ri-spek-tuh-buhl ]
See synonyms for respectable on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. worthy of respect or esteem; estimable; worthy: a respectable citizen.

  2. of good social standing, reputation, etc.: a respectable neighborhood.

  1. suitable or good enough to be seen or used: respectable clothes; respectable language.

  2. of moderate excellence; fairly good; fair: a respectable performance.

  3. appreciable in size, number, or amount: a respectable turnout.

Origin of respectable

1
First recorded in 1580–90; respect + -able

Other words for respectable

Other words from respectable

  • re·spect·a·ble·ness, noun
  • re·spect·a·bly, adverb
  • non·re·spect·a·ble, adjective
  • non·re·spect·a·ble·ness, noun
  • non·re·spect·a·bly, adverb
  • pre·re·spect·a·ble, adjective
  • qua·si-re·spect·a·ble, adjective
  • qua·si-re·spect·a·bly, adverb
  • sem·i·re·spect·a·ble, adjective
  • su·per·re·spect·a·ble, adjective
  • su·per·re·spect·a·ble·ness, noun
  • su·per·re·spect·a·bly, adverb
  • ul·tra·re·spect·a·ble, adjective
  • ul·tra·re·spect·a·bly, adverb
  • ul·tra·re·spect·a·ble·ness, noun
  • un·re·spect·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use respectable in a sentence

  • Romney will have to finish respectably in the state to stay alive.

    Romney: The Cowardly Candidate | Michael Tomasky | August 2, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • There are, of course, critically praised contemporary writers in Ireland who do sell respectably well in America.

    Read Me, I'm Irish | Mark Salter | March 17, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Two of the “lot” who approached appeared to be respectably-dressed young men, carrying something like a large box between them.

    The Garret and the Garden | R.M. Ballantyne
  • The ceiling is respectably painted, and was probably the work of an amateur monk of the seventeenth century.

  • He scarcely took time to dine respectably; indeed, he often ate his lunch in the dissecting-room.

  • He is respectably dressed—type of elderly retired butler; just now he is slightly and solemnly fuddled.

    The Brass Bottle | F. Anstey
  • In addition, there was a great number of hostile critics come to condemn, but behaving themselves on the whole very respectably.

    The English Stage | Augustin Filon

British Dictionary definitions for respectable

respectable

/ (rɪˈspɛktəbəl) /


adjective
  1. having or deserving the respect of other people; estimable; worthy

  2. having good social standing or reputation

  1. having socially or conventionally acceptable morals, standards, etc: a respectable woman

  2. relatively or fairly good; considerable: a respectable salary

  3. fit to be seen by other people; presentable

Derived forms of respectable

  • respectability or rare respectableness, noun
  • respectably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012