Respectable describes someone or something worthy of respect and approval. A respectable person behaves honestly, works hard, and treats others fairly. A respectable business operates with integrity and keeps its promises to customers. When your teacher calls your work respectable, she means it meets good standards and shows real effort.

The word often appears in phrases like respectable score or respectable performance, meaning something solid and credible, even if not perfect. If you earn a respectable grade on a difficult test, you did well enough that others recognize your achievement. A respectable showing in a competition means you competed honorably and performed competently.

Being respectable isn't about being perfect or the absolute best. It's about meeting standards that matter: honesty, responsibility, and genuine effort. A respectable student might not win every award, but they complete their work conscientiously and help their classmates. A respectable neighbor keeps their yard tidy and treats others with courtesy.

The word can also describe appearing proper or conventional. Someone might dress in respectable clothing for a formal occasion, meaning neat and appropriate attire. In older literature, you might encounter phrases like respectable society, referring to people who followed the accepted social standards of their time.