Standard Lemma guide

respectably

adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 S P EH1 K T AH0 B L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a respectable manner; so as to gain respect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A respectably attired solicitor came to read the will.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Moderately; pretty well.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a decent and morally reputable manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the film ends with the middle-aged romancers respectably married

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

to a tolerably worthy extent

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he did respectably well for his age

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: creditably

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English respectable Middle English -ly English -ly English respectably From respectable + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kunnioitettavasti — in a respectable manner
  • French: respectablement — in a respectable manner
  • Greek: αξιοσέβαστα (axiosévasta) — in a respectable manner
  • Ido: respektinde — in a respectable manner
  • Middle English: honestly — in a respectable manner
  • Middle English: dignely — in a respectable manner
  • Polish: szacownie — in a respectable manner
  • Spanish: respetablemente — in a respectable manner
  • Spanish: dignamente — in a respectable manner