agreeable

agreeable — adjective

1. pleasant in a gentle, easy way, so people feel comfortable with it.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

pleasant in a gentle, easy way, so people feel comfortable with it.

Example

We spent an agreeable evening on the porch, sharing fruit and tea.

agreeable + time noun

Her agreeable voice made the long train delay easier to bear.

agreeable voice collocation

Common collocations
  • agreeable evening
  • agreeable voice
  • agreeable manner
  • agreeable weather
Synonyms
  • pleasant

    the closest everyday word; less formal than 'agreeable'

  • nice

    very common and broad, but less exact

  • charming

    stronger and warmer, often with special attraction

  • likable

    mainly for people, not places or weather

Antonyms
  • unpleasant

    gives a bad feeling instead of a comfortable one

  • disagreeable

    a more formal opposite, often for people or experiences

Grammar Patterns

agreeable + noun

find someone or something agreeable

Usage Note

Often used for weather, voices, manners, places, and evenings. With people, it usually suggests calm, easy company rather than strong charm or excitement.

Common Mistakes

My new boss is agreeable because she says yes to every request.
My new boss is agreeable because she is easy to be with.
in this sense, 'agreeable' means pleasant, not always willing to agree.

2. good enough for the people involved to approve of it or say yes to it.

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

good enough for the people involved to approve of it or say yes to it.

Example

After two meetings, both families chose an agreeable date for the wedding.

agreeable + plan/date/terms noun

The judge asked whether the payment terms were agreeable to both sides.

agreeable to + both sides

Common collocations
  • agreeable terms
  • agreeable solution
  • agreeable date
  • agreeable to both sides
Synonyms
  • acceptable

    the usual modern word; less formal and more common

  • suitable

    stresses fitness for a purpose more than approval

  • workable

    suggests a practical plan that people can go ahead with

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

agreeable to someone

agreeable + plan/date/terms

Usage Note

Often used in formal discussion about plans, terms, dates, or solutions, especially with 'to' naming the people who accept them. Distinguish from sense 3: here the proposal is agreeable; in sense 3, the person is agreeable.

Common Mistakes

The manager was agreeable to the new budget.
The new budget was agreeable to the manager.
this sense describes the thing that can be accepted, not the person's willingness.

3. ready to say yes or go along with what someone suggests.

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

ready to say yes or go along with what someone suggests.

Example

Mina was agreeable to moving the piano lesson to Thursday.

be agreeable to + -ing

After a short pause, the landlord was agreeable to lowering the rent.

be agreeable to + action

Common collocations
  • agreeable to moving
  • agreeable to change
  • agreeable to meeting later
  • seem agreeable
Synonyms
  • willing

    the plain modern choice for being ready to do something

  • ready

    can suggest quicker or more immediate willingness

  • open

    often means willing to consider an idea, not fully committed yet

  • cooperative

    stresses helping others and working smoothly with them

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be agreeable to something

be agreeable to doing something

Usage Note

Usually appears after 'be', 'seem', or 'become', followed by 'to' plus a noun or -ing form. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes a person's willingness, not whether a plan is acceptable.

Common Mistakes

Mina agreeable to help after school.
Mina was agreeable to helping after school.
'agreeable' is an adjective, so it usually needs 'be' and often takes 'to + -ing'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe someone or something that gives a good feeling, but the tone is different. 'Agreeable' is slightly formal and often gentle: an agreeable person, voice, room, or evening feels easy and comfortable. 'Pleasant' is the broad everyday choice for experiences, weather, or behaviour. 'Nice' is even more common, but also vaguer. 'Charming' is stronger and suggests special attraction or warmth. 'Likable' is mostly for people, and it focuses on why others enjoy being with them. You can have an agreeable dinner conversation, pleasant weather, a nice neighbour, a charming host, and a likable teacher. If you want quiet approval rather than strong praise, 'agreeable' is often the best fit.

agreeable ↗pleasant ↗nice ↗charming ↗likable

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite agreeable
  • perfectly agreeable
  • entirely agreeable

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

English borrowed 'agreeable' from French in the late Middle Ages. The French form meant 'pleasing' or 'welcome' and was built on a verb meaning 'to receive with favour' or 'approve'. That verb goes back to Latin 'gratus', meaning 'pleasing' or 'thankful'. The history matches the modern word well: something agreeable is something that gives a good feeling or wins approval.