Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Capable of being given, displayed, or offered.
  • adjective Fit for introduction to others.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Capable of being presented; qualified or suitable for presentation.
  • Capable of being offered for perception or understanding; capable of being made known: as, an idea presentable only in language.
  • Suitable for being offered as a gift.
  • Eccles.: Capable of being presented to a church living: as, a presentable clerk.
  • Capable of receiving the presentation of a clerk: as, “churches presentable,” Ayliffe, Parergon.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Capable or admitting of being presented; suitable to be exhibited, represented, or offered; fit to be brought forward or set forth; hence, fitted to be introduced to another, or to go into society
  • adjective rare Admitting of the presentation of a clergiman.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective In good enough shape that someone or something can be shown to other people, tidy, attractive

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective fit to be seen

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

present +‎ -able

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Examples

  • COLLINS: Chris, we know Mr. Devlin's attorneys have concerns about what they call presentable clothing for that -- for that video that they'll be doing.

    CNN Transcript Jan 17, 2007 2007

  • Don†™ t you feel the pressure of always looking presentable, which is expected from Bollywood actresses?

    The Times of India 2009

  • She really wasn't very "presentable" in her house dress, but what moved me was her interest in life itself; literally using her window looking onto life in the street - she is ever interested in what passes her way - that spirit of hopefulness gives us all hope!

    mamie - French Word-A-Day 2010

  • She really wasn't very "presentable" in her house dress, but what moved me was her interest in life itself; literally using her window looking onto life in the street- she is ever interested in what passes her way- that spirit of hopefulness gives us all hope!

    mamie - French Word-A-Day 2010

  • Well this one can be called my first "presentable" art done with Corel Painter ...

    Ninjas Silhouette Luca 2008

  • I'm really really happy everyone enjoyed this cake: it was the first "presentable" layering-frosting experience for me, and your comments give me encouragement to try more of these!

    Layered Chocolate Cake with Fluffy White Frosting 2008

  • As for "presentable," I did not use the word in the sense of that wonderful German adjective salonfähig, but simply as "worth looking at."

    'The Stasi on Our Minds': An Exchange Cox, Harvey 2007

  • But just as Mr. Kissinger, a "presentable" Jew, became a hit in the WASP-y glam world of 70's society, so Moby has won admirers by being a "presentable" pop star.

    The Moby Dames 2005

  • But just as Mr. Kissinger, a "presentable" Jew, became a hit in the WASP-y glam world of 70's society, so Moby has won admirers by being a "presentable" pop star.

    The Moby Dames 2005

  • My father has gone to bed for his afternoon nap, having just chosen someone "presentable" to take over Billy's job.

    Broken Music, A Memoir Sting 2003

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